Howdy y’all!

By the time you read this post, I’ll be flying to Brazil. And boy are my arms gonna be tired! Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha! (er, sorry.)

Don’t worry; I’ll be back! (In case you’re wondering where I went, see last Monday’s post.)

Anyway, since I’ll be away from the Internet for a while, may I recommend you check out a few of my older posts?

1. I learned two very important lessons about life while climbing to the top of the mountain called The Tooth of Time.
2. Have you ever had one of those days when you just wanted to blow up the planet and start over? Uh, me neither. But… if you have, then you need to read How to Destroy the Earth. Really.
3. My first “What I Learned From…” story, To Follow the Herd… or Not is what inspired our monthly groupwrite projects here at the Middle Zone.
4. Still one of my favorite tales, The Pain and the Prize tells about how I overcame a huge obstacle.
5. Take ‘Em By Surprise is a great story about how to deliver not-so-good news to your boss. Or your boss’s boss.
6. I once won a prize for being a total failure! It was an accident, really! But still, I had everyone wondering, How’d He Do That?
7. The second favorite most memorable incident from our trip to Paris: A Full Moon Over the Seine River. (In case you’re wondering, here’s the MOST memorable: Ah, Paris in the Spring.)
8. You can learn a lot of great things from blogging, can’t you? Some of ‘em invaluable; some… not so much. Here’s a list of the Top 5 Strangest Things I’ve Learned While Blogging.
9. A long tunnel in the mountains of France taught me a thing or two about hope when we came through to The Other Side of Darkness.
10. In The Long and the Short of It, a teeny tiny little bit of a dog teaches me a great lesson about perseverance.

(OK, so there’s 11 instead of 10. Think of it as a bonus, ‘K?)

Well, that should keep y’all busy until I get back! Y’all play nice, now!

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OK, I know you were expecting to see an announcement about this month’s What I Learned From…” groupwrite project here today. Actually, I did too. I mean, ever since starting these things back in May of ’07 (practically prehistoric times on the Internet!) we’ve had a new one every month like clockwork.

But… well, sometimes stuff just happens, y’know?

As a matter of fact, this week I’m preparing to go away for awhile. And not just away – far away. (And don’t let me hear the sound of cheering here! Just sayin’.)

Yep, as a matter of fact I’ll be completely out of touch. Well, at least out of Internet range, anyway. But don’t worry, I’m not on the lam or anything. I haven’t been abducted by government agents (not yet anyway) or aliens. And yes, I’ll be back soon. Try not to let your disappointment enthusiasm show too much.

Where am I going, you ask? Well, as you can see from this handy image I created, it’s to a small municipality called Pedra Branca, located in northeast Brazil. (The town name means, “white rock” in Portuguese.) As a matter of fact, it’s so far out-of-the-way, Wikipedia has virtually nothing on it. It’s located somewhere near these coordinates: 7º04’03.06”S and 40º30’00.49”W. Pop that in your magic teleportation machine and drop by for a visit, won’t you? Bring some ice.

Actually, I’ll be part of a team of 17 wonderful folks who are there to build a church for a small congregation. Which is kinda ironic, considering my, er, “carpentry skills”. (I put that in quote marks for a reason, if you get my meanin’. But don’t tell anyone, ‘K?) Nevertheless, it’s going to be a lot of fun working with ‘em.

What’s more, we’re going to build an entire church in just 6 days! (How hard could it be? After all, God created an entire cosmos in six days. We’re just constructing the one building.)

We’re leaving this Friday, November 6 (that’s in 2009, in case you read this post in the future – or the past, for that matter), and we’ll be back on Sunday, November 15 (although I probably won’t be, y’know, awake, until a few days later. Not to worry; I expect to take lots of photos and will no doubt have plenty of stories about the experience in the days to come. Lots of things to tell about and lessons learned, I’m sure.

Y’all play nice while I’m gone, ‘K?

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I’ve really been busy the last couple of weeks, what with this and that looming large on my horizon (more on that Monday). So I thought I’d just take a minute to point you to last Friday’s post, Solve the Mystery, in which I posted a photo of a strange sign I found in a hotel not too long ago, and then asked if anyone could interpret it.

I still can’t believe how many folks stopped by and left a guess! As of this writing, there have been 26 guesses so far – some of ‘em quite hilarious – and one correct answer. Yep, that’s right, a big ol’ tip o’ the hat goes to Kevin E. Blake for figuring it out. (I’d pop in a link to Kevin’s website – but he didn’t leave one! Missed an opportunity there, Bubba! Just sayin’)

In case you’re wondering, I won’t keep you in suspense; it means “Ticket Counter”, and he even found the complete listing of international signs. Way to go, Kevin! Now, if you happen to see that particular sign in the future, you’ll know what it means.

But… there’s still a mystery here. If I’d stepped back and photographed the whole area, you’d see what I saw – there’s no ticket counter anywhere within sight of this sign! So I’m not sure it’s all that helpful. But maybe that’s just me, bein’ picky.

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Is it true that to do something well – you have to like what you’re doing? I’m honestly not sure if that’s necessarily a maxim or not. I mean, I’m pretty good at some things I don’t particularly like to do. And there’s lots of things I, well, stink at that I love to do. But then, that’s the way the cookie crumbles, y’know?

But you gotta agree that having a great deal of enthusiasm for a task, whatever it happens to be, certainly lends a little je ne sais quoi to the endeavor, won’t you? (je ne sais quoi, for those of you who don’t know, is French for “the zest for life”. Or maybe it just means, “pass the French toast.”)

Summer as a Camp Counselor

Quite a few summers ago, I was one of several counselors (meaning, “the adults”) at a children’s camp up in the deep woods of East Texas. Each of us counselors were assigned to a cabin with an assistant counselor (usually an older teen-ager) and about 12-15 boys in the seven- to twelve-year old range. (Yep; you read it right. I was only 27 at the time, but I’m almost positive that’s where I got my first grey hair.)

Anyhoo, for seven weeks straight, a new group of kids would show up every Sunday afternoon, stay a week, and then leave the following Saturday. I’ll tell ya; after seven weeks of this, I was about ready for the funny farm! (Who knows? Maybe this is what pushed me over the edge and into the Middle Zone in the first place?)

Now, if you’ve never had the *ahem* joy of this sort of experience, then all I gotta say is, Bubba, you ain’t lived! Nevertheless, to this day I still fondly reminisce about many of the wonderful – and sometimes zany – things we did. (Or, er, accidentally caused to happen. But let’s not go there; it wasn’t me, honest!)

Not that I didn’t have a blast, mind you; I did. But the thing is, it was my first time as a counselor and I truly didn’t have a clue! Luckily they assigned me an assistant counselor who had lots of experience, so for the first week or two he managed to keep things on an even keel (without looking like he was the one in, y’know, actual control). But I learned pretty quickly, and before too long I really did know what I was doin’. (That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it!)

The Weight of Responsibility

On the other hand, bein’ a counselor wasn’t all fun and games; it had its responsibilities. I mean, we, along with a few other folks, were the sole caretakers – out in the middle of a jungle filled with lions, tigers and bears – for about 250 kids, every week. (Well, OK; it was woods, not jungle, and they were armadillos, squirrels, and blue jays – but you get my meanin’, right?) If you think about it, that was quite the weighty undertaking. Oh, we had plenty of fun, no doubt about that; but there was the serious side to things.

For instance, one thing we always tried to do was find a way to encourage each and every kid. Maybe they were good at archery, or a good trail reader, or even a great swimmer. No matter what it was, we made sure every one of ‘em had an award certificate for something in his or her hot little hand before they left on Saturday. We always found something to praise them for.

Then there were what you might consider the “usual” awards: those who were best at stuff, like riflery (don’t panic; we used BB guns), diving, or even the most sportsmanlike qualities. And Bubba, picking out the best boy AND girl for each one of those categories wasn’t always easy! (Especially when there were about 125 of each, and we had to narrow it down to just one of each.) Sometimes, it was almost impossible.

I remember this one time the boys’ counselors spent about 20 minutes trying to figure out who should get the “trophy” for Best Trampoline. (Well, it wasn’t a trophy, exactly. More like a picture of a trophy on a certificate. But still.) Amazingly enough, there really hadn’t been an outstandingly good one among the boys that particular week. But we wanted to do something; the kids would notice if we didn’t choose someone. The conversation went something like this:

“What about Frank?” someone would ask.

“Naw, he’s not any good, really; he can barely stay on the thing.”

“All right then, I thought Barry was fair to middlin’,” another said.

“Hey, wasn’t he the kid that tried to catch that butterfly and jumped clean off and accidentally knocked over all the canoes? Jenny screamed bloody murder when one of ‘em landed on her toe! I don’t think we want to reward that.” Reluctant nods of agreement all around.

And so it went.

The Standout

Finally, I had a thought (try not to be too surprised; it happens, y’know). There was one young fellow in my cabin who did kinda stand out. Not that he was all that good on the trampoline, mind you; but there was this one thing about him – I’d never seen anybody have more fun doing it! I’m tellin’ ya; although he was havin’ a lot of fun at camp, he probably laughed the loudest and hardest when he was on the trampoline. His laughter and smile literally lit the place up whenever it was his turn – and what’s more, he somehow set all the other kids watching him to laughing, too!

Now, this kid had been one I’d been a little concerned about. See, he was only 7 years old (pretty much the smallest kid in camp that week), and as a result, he wasn’t too good at, well, anything. He was too small to hold a rifle or pull a bow; he was also too small to run very fast, and he couldn’t swim worth a darn – well, you get the picture, right?

But I’ll tell ya; he sure loved to jump! Not well, mind you; but again, he did it with more gusto and enthusiasm than anybody we’d seen all summer. Heads nodded all around and smiles broke out as we agreed this was just the thing to give him the encouragement we’d all wanted to give.

Yessir; I’ll never forget that kid’s face (although sadly, I’ve forgotten his name) when we called him up front to accept the “Most Enthusiastic Trampoline Jumper” award that Saturday – in front of the entire camp, and most of the parents, too. I bet that kid grinned the entire way home! And best of all, the entire group of campers knew it, too – they all clapped enthusiastically when he got it; it was that obvious he deserved it.

Time to Take Out the Trash

So what does this have to do with you and me, you ask? Well, even today, whenever I think of the smile on that kid’s face as he happily received his award, I can’t help get an answering smile inside. That, more than any other experience, was probably one of the brightest moments of my summer that year. And even now I still remember the valuable lesson he taught me: That whatever I do, I should do it with enthusiasm.

OK, so that’s not always so easy. So what? Attitude, as every Life Coach will tell you, is at least 95% a choice. I mean, we can’t always determine the tasks we have to do each day, can we? Hey, I’ll bet Superman or Spiderman or Wonder Woman still had to take out the garbage and wash the car every now and then, y’know? (Well, in Wonder Woman’s case, it was probably her invisible jet plane.)

But we can still choose how we feel about those things, can’t we?

Besides, after practicing how to be cheerful, even with the mundane things in life, imagine how much joy we’ll experience doing the really fun things? Like that kid jumping with such pure joy on the trampoline, we’ll have a blast doing it – and who knows? Maybe we’ll even inspire others with our enthusiasm too.

I mean, you never know.

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Every now and then I run across something that totally stumps me. Like this sign.

I’ve wracked my brain (sound of brain being wracked), but so far have not come up with a meaning for this one.

Anybody got any ideas?

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You ever feel like you’re in some sort of limbo? You know, that place between where you were and where you’re goin’?

Yeah, I know; I’ve been there too – lots of times. In fact, I’m sorta there now.

As you may or may not know, I’m currently “between jobs” (which sounds so much nicer than, say, “unemployed”). And with the current economic climate, like many of us in this particular boat I’m facing the prospect that my normal choice of career may not recover for some time. Alas and darn.

So that sorta leaves me with a few choices, y’know? I can continue to try and pursue the career path I’m used to the most, or (and here’s where the conundrum comes in) find out if there’s something else I can do that’ll pay the bills –  or better yet – earn a living at.

Needless to say, it would be nice if I could do something I really enjoyed – like, for instance, write for a living. But it’s a pretty rare bird that can just up and make a living at it; generally that sort of thing takes time to build. Not that I can’t pursue it, mind you, but it’s not the only thing I’ve got my eye on right now. Suffice it to say I’ve got several different irons in the fire right now.

But it does bring up today’s question for ya:

If you were suddenly laid off from the job you know best, and the prospect of finding another job in that field were pretty dim – what would you think about doing instead? What could you do?

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You ever get the feeling someone, somewhere, is just waitin’ for an opportunity to make you look like an idiot?

Yep; been there, my friends. The worst part about it is, I find I’m often subconsciously working in cahoots with that mysterious stranger; handing ‘em all the ammunition they need. You ever felt like that? Naah; not you.

Anyhoo, today’s thought is just that: a thought about what happens when something completely unexpected happens.

Take, f’rinstance, this scene from The Lake House I saw on TV. I mean, I’m almost positive Sandra Bullock didn’t expect anyone to paste their obtrusive advertising message across her, um, nether regions like this. And just to make it even more ironic, it happened to be this particular message!

So what do you do when, right there in front of the whole world, the unexpected happens to you?

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Wow, what a great topic, y’all! I mean after all, I can hardly go a few hours without encountering a limit of one kind or another. Why, just the other day I had to forgo that third basket of chips at our favorite restaurant. I mean hey, I am on a diet, y’know…

Anyhoo – All I’m sayin’ is, I think a big ol’ Yeehaw! is in order for the participants in this month’s groupwrite project: What I Learned From Limits! In fact, we had 22 entries this time, including two guest posts from Kay Plantes and Chris Garrett (sound of crowd cheering enthusiastically).

So take a look at the list below, in which all the entries are listed in the order in which I found ‘em. Do yourself a favor and drop by each writers’ site and start a conversation, why don’cha? You’ll be glad you did!

• What I Learned From Limits, by Lillie Ammann at A Writer’s Words, an Editor’s Eye
• 2 Word Limit, by Joanna Young at Confident Writing
• The Old Man and the Mountain, by Steve Woodruff at Steve’s Leaves
• What I learned from limits in Genealogy, by Tina Didreckson at Windows Live
• Twitter and Writing Within Limits, by Brad Shorr at Word Sell, Inc.
• What I Learned From Limits, by Meryl at Meryl.net
• Non-Competes, Health Insurance, and Other Ugly Limits to Innovation, by Fred Schlegel at Frog Blog
• Limits? What Limits? By Geoffrey Philp at Geoffrey Philp’s Blogspot
• What I Learned From the 24 Hour a Day Limit, by Chris Garrett at Middle Zone Musings (guest post)
• What I Learned From the Limits of Allergies, by Monique Attinger at BeAllergyWise.com
• What I Learned From Limits, by Sally Ferguson at Sally’s Words
• The Power of Vision, by Kay Plantes at Middle Zone Musings (guest post)
• What I Learned From Self-Imposed Limits, by Avil Beckford at The Invisible Mentor

And of course, here’s a few more from yours truly:

• 5 Things I Learned From Driving Around in Circles, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings
• Impenetrable, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings
• The Day I Went Flying, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings
• Paths and Boundaries, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings
• Limitations and Opportunities: What I Learned From a Ferry Ride, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings
• The Day I Decided to, er, Get Help, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings
• Overcoming Barriers, Part 1, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings
• Overcoming Barriers, Part 2, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings
• Language Barrier, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings

I’d like to thank all those who participated this month, and hope you enjoy some of the wild, weird, and sometimes even whacky stuff that goes on here at the Zone. Don’t forget to drop by next month for another exciting episode of As The World Turns What I Learned From…!

And of course, a big ol’ tip o’ the hat to ya!

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And now for something a little different, y’all.

Kay Plantes asked me if I would be willing to post the following article because she felt it was “a story that needed telling”. I have to admit, it’s a pretty good account of how the power of vision can make all the difference to the tale of success. And, in an amazing display of serendipity, it also happens to fit neatly into our What I Learned From Limits groupwrite project this month! Way to go, Kay!

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Seeking: College-town of 20,000+ college students, with 10,000+ year-round residents, active nightlife and eclectic cultural tastes to locate a unique pizza restaurant

Ian Gurfield, an Amherst University college student, created this vision statement during an academic semester in Italy. Following a post-graduation cross-country trip through America’s college towns, he chose Madison, opening Frances Street Ian’s in the heart of UW’s nightlife.

Ten years later Gurfield owns multiple Madison businesses, his vision far more sophisticated, evolving due to his curiosity, willingness to experiment and tenacity. Admirably, he’s held “not knowing” until the right answers emerged.

Gurfield opened a second Ian’s on State Street to retain an ambitious business partner and capture traffic at Madison’s Capitol Square.  He discovered the challenges of multiple businesses and that a winning location is necessary but not sufficient.  By expanding the space to offer eat-in dining, Gurfield found success.  A restaurant on Chicago’s Clark Street also joined the mix.

Ian’s also grew synergistically using new products.  A local, organic frozen yogurt recently joined salads and brownies on the menus.  A staging kitchen will soon open on Willy Street, relieving stores of ingredient preparation. To speed financial payback, the kitchen will run a retail bakery modeled after Portland, Maine’s Standard Bakery.

Through all this, Gurfield struggled with Ian’s longer-term vision. Growth for the sake of growth wasn’t important, but retaining talent is, and that requires growth.  Furthermore, according to Gurfield, “Franchising wouldn’t work as we’d lose the local-owner-as-manager climate critical to creating Ian’s unique taste and experience.”

Ian’s recently completed 2020 Vision is a best-practice example of visioning for a number of reasons. The vision:

• Is specific and unique—not the generic statements so many leaders settle for.  For example, by 2020 Ian’s will have created 16 businesses, with at least 10 retail pizza restaurants, and in at least two geographic areas. A central entity, Ian’s Soul Central, will establish best practices across sites and offer marketing, financial and management services. An internal investment bank (open to employee investment) will fund expansion.
• Is inspiring—capturing what matters most (such as sustainability and good jobs) to the people who will transform reality into vision.
• Is strategic—setting a direction, not merely elusive goals. Gurfield’s vision work solved how Ian’s will grow while still retaining the individual identity and entrepreneurship vital to any one location’s success. Ian’s will be a federation of independently owned companies (at least two per city) that share knowledge and central services to help entrepreneurs overcome an otherwise lonely, challenging journey. Ian’s Soul Central will also convene a board of managing partners, each overseeing a city’s individual operator-owner companies, like State Street Ian’s Pizza that Lexy Frautschy now fully owns.
• Stretches from today. Ian’s hiring and training practices will be recognized nationally, for example.
• Yet, is rooted in the company’s DNA. Ian’s will always focus on exceptional ingredients, expertly prepared – “A business with pizzazz, not pizza” – and a rewarding environment for team players, all Gurfield core values.
• Clarifies what’s in and out. After completing the vision work, Gurfield learned that an associate’s father had unused organic farmland. Immediately he saw a fit, given Ian’s commitment to sustainable business practices and starting new businesses. Yet another federation member is born.

What does your vision statement say about your organization? If it reflects a “check the box, did that” activity, start again.  Defining your vision is at the heart of thinking and leading strategically.

Kay Plantes helps business leaders make better strategy decisions, faster. Her 20-year old firm, Plantes Company, LLC works with leaders to redefine their organization’s business model to secure higher profits and growth. The MIT-trained economist writes a weekly blog on business model innovation, http://www.plantescompany.com/blog and is author of Beyond Price: Differentiate Your Business in Ways that Really Matter (Greenleaf Bookgroup, 2009) http://www.beyondpricebook.com

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I have come to the conclusion my biggest limit is the 24 hour day. Or rather, how I think about the 24 hour day.

Let’s face it, we have all had days where 24 hours were just not enough!

- Work
- Exercise
- Family
- Relaxation
- Chores

… and somewhere in there we need time to eat and sleep too!

What have I learned from these limits?

Lack of time has meant I have had to learn …

- How to prioritize and find some work/life balance, and that clients should not come before my kid

- Productivity and time management (an ongoing struggle)

- Automation, and using software tools (I write about productivity and software here)

- Saying “No” is not rude but sensible and best for all parties

- Partnering more – having to realize I am not superman was hard but necessary!

- Creating products so do not have to sell my hours, more of me to go around

- Finding folks who are open and willing to support me, even if that means listening to me moan

This is an ongoing challenge for me so if you have any tips for how to squeeze more life out of a 24 hour day, I am all ears!
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This is a guest post and “What I Learned From Limits” entry from fellow Bubba, Chris Garrett. Chris writes over at Chris Garrett on New Media. Drop by and tell him “howdy”, won’t you?
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What is it about limits that make us human beans get all riled up inside? And why do we insist on kicking against any kind of limitations other folks may put upon us?

I was wandering around Discovery Green Park (it’s a small park in downtown Houston) a while back and one of the things I ran across was this stairway to, apparently, nowhere. It was tall and broad, made of very nicely laid brick, and – completely blocked off by this sign suspended on a chain!

Now, I gotta ask ya – is it just me? I’m tellin’ ya, whenever I see stuff like this, the first thing I want to do is, well, step right over the rope, chain or whatever, and go right in. I’m not alone, am I? Nope; thought not!

See, there’s this thing inside us that pretty much hates bein’ told what it can or can’t do, y’know? Now, is that a good thing, or a bad thing? Ah, now that’s the $49 question, don’t ya think?

The Good and the Bad

On the one hand, limits teach us some pretty good lessons, don’t they? I mean, when you’re a baby, and you reach for a hot stove, the alert and careful parent will tell you NO! in no uncertain terms. Wouldn’t you agree that’s a good limit? And when children go out in the backyard to explore and play, the fence generally defines the limits where parents might consider it to be “safe”, right? (There’s always a fence, of course; whether or not it’s physical is beside the point.)

I mean, those are good uses of limits, wouldn’t you say? They are there to help us survive childhood, for one thing. And in some cases, they give us the opportunity to, y’know, grow up!

On the other hand, there’s limits imposed upon us for other reasons, such as the one pictured here. Or, maybe they’re limitations imposed  by a business (we accept cash only, no checks), a government (you will pay your taxes and you will enjoy it!), or even a friend (no, you can’t come over tomorrow, that’s the day I get my house fumigated). Augh! What’s a body to do?

A Stop Sign – or a Green Light?

Most of the time, those limitations you encounter every single day of our lives are so mundane and accepted that you may not even think about them. And that’s as it should be, don’t you think? I mean, if you had to stop and decide whether to accept every limit placed upon you every time it happened, you’d never get anywhere!

But what about the limits imposed upon us by other folks – that keep us from something you’re convinced is worthwhile? Ah, now that’s a pickle of another persuasion, isn’t it? When that sort of thing happens, it sorta riles you up, now, don’t it?

You find yourself sayin’ something along the lines of, Now who the heck do you think you are, anyway, to tell me I can’t climb that mountain, fly that high, or (feel free to fill in the blank here)?(Usually to be accompanied by a humph! or two.)

That’s what usually happens with me, anyway. In fact, I remember thinking that very thing (along with the humph!) a long time ago when a friend of mine told me it was “too late” to go back to school and finish my degree. After all, he pointed out, it’s been twenty years since I was in college. Besides, why bother? he said; what will it get you?

But you know what? It wasn’t!

In fact, I finished my Bachelor’s degree almost twenty years to the month after I started it! (Like I always say, I may not be smart – but I am slow!) Not only that, just for the heck of it I went on to get a Master’s and a Doctorate, too. No limits here, I’ll tell ya! As for what it’s given me, well, that would take a lot more than a simple blog post. Suffice it to say, it’s made a difference.

What Makes the Difference?

The fact is, limits can impose restrictions upon your actions – or they can cause you to rise up to even greater things, can’t they? What makes the difference?

Now, that is one interesting question, don’t you think? And after thinkin’ about it for a while, I decided to open up the floor for that one. So now it’s your turn!

Why do some folks hit a limit of some kind and stop (or turn aside), while others find ways to get around the limit and keep on’ goin’?  What makes one limit “firm”, while another one is really a sorta “call to arms”, if you get my meanin’ – a challenge to greatness?

I’m not sure there are any hard and fast rules here, but if you know of some, I’d be interested to hear ‘em! In the meantime, I’ll leave the light on for ya, OK?

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This is an entry for this month’s What I Learned From Limits groupwrite project. Hey, there’s plenty of time left and you’re welcome to join us if you like; just follow that link there and read all about it!

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Hey, a tip o’ the hat, y’all! Today is the first Monday of October, and you know what that means, don’t ya? Yep, it’s time for the next What I Learned From… groupwrite project! (sound of crowd cheering enthusiasticaly)

So to kick us off, I have a question for ya:

Have you ever been toolin’ along, minding your own business, when WHAM! you ran straight into a barrier of some kind?

Yup; notwithstanding the lump on my forehead, I’ve done the same thing now and then.

I’ll tell ya, it’s downright aggravating, ain’t it? You really want to get where you’re going, or accomplish that thing you’ve set your heart (or possibly even your future financial fortune) on, or whatever it is you’re aiming for – and then some danged fool has gone and shackled you with some kind of limitation or two! Augh! Drat! Grrr!

Maybe it’s a road sign (“No Entry Beyond This Point”) or a length of chain (“Do not enter. Prosecutors will be violated.”), or even something less tangible (“I’m sorry, but we don’t service those anymore. You’ll have to call the manufacturer directly. Uh, if they still exist. And good luck with that.”) No matter what it is, it represents something you’re going to have to figure out what do about, right? And thus… you learn something!

So to celebrate, I’m naming this as the topic of the month for our What I Learned From… groupwrite project!

Now, you are invited to join us as usual this month and share something you’ve learned when circumstances are conspiring to derail you. And don’t hold back, y’all; give it to us straight! All you have to do is write a post and send me the link OR you can link to an already written post about something you learned from your experience. (By the way, you don’t have to stop at one – more is definitely encouraged.)

What to Do

OK, once again, all you have to do is either write something new and send me the link, or you can send me the link to something you’ve already written. It doesn’t matter how far back the link goes – just send it to me!

The project is open from now thru Sunday, October 11, at midnight (that’s midnight to me, which is GMT-5 time), so write your post(s) (yes, you can enter more than once!), and send me the links! I’ll post the entire list of entries on Monday, October 12.

And let’s not forget the details…

1. Write a new post (or link to an existing one) on your blog with a link to THIS POST (uh, the one you’re reading now). As I said, feel free to be as eloquent (or concise) as you like. C’mon; show off for us!
2. Send me an email (rhruzek@sbcglobal.net) containing your name, the title of your post, and the permalink of the post. (To make sure I don’t miss it.)

That’s all there is to it! Next Monday, October 12, I will post the entire list of entries right here at the Middle Zone, so be sure and drop by to check ‘em all out.

As always, we have just two simple rules around here:

• For the sake of the general blogging audience, please keep it G-Rated. (Also please note: this is a request, not a demand, since after all it’s your blog and you can do what you want. Fair warning: I can choose to link to you or not.)
• Be nice.

All right, ladies and gentlemen; you know what to do! Grab the writing instrument of your choice and start writing!

[Note from the Proprietor - I realize it takes a little time to write your entries, but would you mind too terribly not waiting until midnight on Sunday night, September 13 to notify me? Sometimes it can be difficult to get them all compiled by Monday's 6 am post time! I surely thank you, and as a token of my appreciation - have yourself a cookie!]

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Wandering around Discovery Green Park in downtown Houston one morning a few weeks ago, I was not surprised to find every single park bench had a dedication of some kind. You know what I mean, right? Along the lines of, “In memory of…”, or something similar.

Hey, it’s a time-honored way of remembering those who’ve come before us, and perhaps may no longer be with us. I often wonder what stories are contained within those few brief words.

However, as I was about to leave the park, I ran across this one, in which a slightly different sentiment is expressed: MAKE EVERY MOMENT COUNT.

I’m tellin’ ya; have no idea who the Reckling family is (all 46 of ‘em; yeesh, can you imagine the run on the bathroom in the mornings?), but I’ll tell ya; I am now a big fan!

Yessir, now that’s a sentiment that gets the ol’ ticker turnin’ over, ain’t it? I gotta say, as a kick-start to the day, it was a heckuva great one!

So allow me to pass it on to y’all today – along with a big ol’ tip o’ the hat!

MAKE EVERY MOMENT COUNT

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[Warning: Slight political rant here today.]

Light.

It’s one of those things we can’t do without, y’know? Over the centuries of human existence, light has become culturally synonymous with enlightenment, clarity, and all things positive.

Darkness, on the other hand, is equated with fear, obfuscation, and secrets.

Maybe that’s because light is so useful in revealing that which is not clearly seen. For instance…

Early Morning in Downtown Houston

I was downtown Houston a few weeks ago for a seminar. It was on the 4^th floor in a rather nice hotel next to the Convention Center (that unusual-looking building you see in this photo).

Since the traffic situation was a big fat unknown to me, I decided to go fairly early. (I live in Tomball, a small town on the outskirts of NW Houston – a drive of about 40 miles.) As usual, leaving earlier meant ‘way less traffic, so that was good. On the other hand, I got there so early it was still about an hour and a half before the seminar started.

To kill some time I spent an hour or so watching the sun rise and shooting a few photos in Discovery Green Park, a small park right across the street from the hotel. (You’ll no doubt hear more about the Park in future posts, but if you’re interested, you can check out some of the photos I took here.)

Anyway, just before the seminar started, I was helping myself to something from the breakfast buffet (don’t worry; it was healthy stuff – promise!) when I happened to glance out the window. Or to be more painfully accurate, I glanced at the window.

Yuck!

I mean to tell ya; it was disgusting! It looked like… well, forget the descriptive; you can see for yourself. The morning sunlight had dramatically illuminated the dirt on this window to the point where it was almost all I could see!

Needless to say, if you folks from the hotel staff are listening, I think you might want to invest in a bottle of Windex and a big ol’ bucket of elbow grease. (There’s even a convenient ledge upon which to stand – just, um,  don’t step back to admire your work! Just sayin’.)

The Power of Light

Yep; no doubt about it, light can be a pretty powerful tool when it comes to revealing stuff.

You can use light to find something lost. The other day, Mrs. MZM dropped a tiny little pill on the rug in our bathroom. Now, you’d think something like that would be pretty easy to find, right? I mean, the rug ain’t that big! But no, because of its color, it simply blended into the rug. So I turned on a flashlight and held it down low, parallel to the floor. Sure enough, the shadow of the pill gave it away! Voila!

Have you ever tried to convince someone to do something – but it was based on, perhaps, shaky logic? No need to raise your hand, my friends; we’ve all done it, haven’t we? I mean, from childhood (it wasn’t me, Mom!) it’s been a long succession of attempts to convince folks I knew what I was talkin’ about.

And what about (sound of terrified scream) politics? How many times has one politician after another made a statement – or ten – that simply didn’t hold up under the application of a little light on the subject? I mean, what’s with that, anyway? And what’s even sillier – they actually get upset when you do it, too! As if they were tryin’ to, y’know, put something over on us…

I mean, take the fracas over Health Care that’s goin’ on here in the U.S. (please!) You’ve got folks on both sides talkin’ as loud as they can, tryin’ to convince you they’re right and the other guy is wrong. Hey, I say we drag out the light and let’s take a look at it!

Does it do this, or that, or even that other thing? With just a little examination, we can find out for ourselves just what it says. Why be afraid of reading it, y’know? And why do they object to us reading it, I wonder?

All I’m sayin’ is, light can be a most powerful tool when it comes to discovering something fundamental – like the truth. And when folks start objecting to its use, well Bubba, don’cha find yourself wonderin’ just what exactly they’ve got to hide?

I’m just sayin’.

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I was in the doctor’s office for my annual 100,000-mile checkup not too long ago. Prognosis: pretty good, actually. I’m generally healthy, and everything still seems to be tickin’ along nicely.

Over by the wall stood this typical doctor’s scale. You’ve most likely seen ‘em, haven’t you? You stand on that plate at the bottom (wearing as little as possible so the danged thing doesn’t mistake that giant Rodeo buckle and ten-gallon hat for excess flab) and then you slide the little weights back and forth on the bars until it balances. Then you read the numbers inside the holes in the weights.

If you look closely in the photo, this one reads 195 pounds. The thing is, that’s not my actual weight. Alas, my current, um, gravitational quotient is a mite higher than that. (But for now let’s keep the actual number my little secret, ‘K?)

The Target

No, what this things shows is my target. See, for the last several months I’ve been on a (sound of terrified scream) diet. My goal is to get back to the weight I believe to be optimum for me – 195. Unfortunately, a few too many cookies, a little too much ice cream… well, let’s just say I’ve not been living the best lifestyle when it comes to food, y’know?

Anyway, Mrs. MZM and I mutually made the decision (hey, it’s true – although I believe the words, “or else” were in there somewhere) to get healthier. Yep; we started doing all the right things: watch what we eat, make sensible choices, exercise regularly – you know, all the things we know to do already, but somehow, well, don’t.

Generally speaking, it hasn’t been as hard as I thought it would be (although I must admit; I do miss pie!) In fact, I’m kinda lookin’ forward to the day I hit my “fightin’ weight” and regain my girlish figure. And to help me along, I keep that target weight in mind now, even when I have nothing but poor choices in front of me. That target colors everything I think about when it comes to food.

The bottom line is, I know the goal, and even better – I know how to reach it.

And that’s good, y’know? It means the ol’ little gray cells are finally cooperatin’, and it’s about time, too! Nowadays, it’s a heck of a lot easier to choose something grilled instead of fried, or something healthy instead of just sweet. All because of that target.

The Target is the Goal

Have you got a goal? How do you visualize it? Did you know a clear visualization can be and extremely powerful agent in change? I bet you did. Sooner or later, everyone comes to the realization that you can’t get anywhere without knowin’ where you’re goin’.

So what’s your goal? How do you visualize it (or them)? Some folks use vision boards, some write out a plan, some share it with others who can help them stay on the right track. What’s your best method of imagining a goal? Share with us what works for you, won’t you?

Maybe by sharing, you can help someone else who’s struggling – and wouldn’t that be great accomplishment!

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