As I sit here this morning having a cup of java and pondering my life to this point it has become quite clear to me that being thankful is very important to being happy. Reflecting on what you have is always more productive and honorable that what you want. It’s sometimes challenging as our society these days and really not just these days but for as long as I can remember really seems to place a value on things you have acquired. BMW’s and 15,000 square foot homes don’t impress me. Don’t misunderstand, I’m happy for those people and their achievements but the “thing” part of the equation doesn’t electrify me.
I’m sure you can remember when you were young, if you’re my age, how oftentimes when opening a package how initially the wrapping was sometimes more impressive than what was inside. But think again about how long the wrapper would last and how long what was inside would last and in the end what meant more. I think it’s an appropriate analogy about my subject. What is important is not the BMW but the person driving it and how they live their life. What is important is not the 15,000 square foot home but the people inside and how they live their lives.
So my point this morning is this; be thankful for everything in your lives but be most thankful for not the packaging of your life but about the real substance underneath. You have a rich life if you are surrounded by a loving, caring group of friends and family and you are striving to make a difference somehow in not just your own life but in the lives of others. Be mindful of the real value of the “things” in your life.
I do indeed hope everyone realizes a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and is safe in their travels. I am thankful for everyone and everything I have and hope I can continue to give back to the best of my abilities and try and make a difference for others.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
First Week in The Corporate World
So this was my first full week of exposure to the corporate world. It has been both fascinating and fraught with challenges and adjustments. When it comes to the technologies I am working with I am pretty well educated, however when it has to deal with the corporate process to achieve goals and objectives I am in my infancy. It’s really all about the process in a corporate world and I am learning this now.
The environment I am working with now is one that is foreign to me at least on the security side. I have had plenty of (too much really) exposure to the patient side of hospitals but this is a new type of client I am about to work with. I will now be intimately involved with the security side of the medical environment. That has me both excited and hesitant. Excited because this type of client really needs the services my company offers; Hesitant because I will now be involved very closely with bean counter types. When I was a locksmith the beans were of a much smaller size. So decisions made will be far reaching financially and have an impact on the company’s success. So the pressure with this type of client will be more substantial.
I am not complaining, mind you, just trying to convey the challenges that lie before me. I’m not even certain how much blogging I will be able to continue, at least in the short term. I am grateful for this opportunity even though you may not be getting that yet. I guess I am thinking through how to handle these next few weeks of more training and more exposure to the new environment. It’s a little disconcerting to have to manage people that actually know the process better than the manager. I plan to make that change but have to be patient in getting to that point. I suppose every manager goes through that type of atmosphere in a new job. But knowing it and dealing with it are not always the same when it comes to executing the correct path.
I will try and keep you up to date about my exploits when possible. I truly hope that everyone reading this has an exceptional Thanksgiving and says a little prayer for me to succeed in my new endeavor. I know I can do it……now I just need to prove it.
The environment I am working with now is one that is foreign to me at least on the security side. I have had plenty of (too much really) exposure to the patient side of hospitals but this is a new type of client I am about to work with. I will now be intimately involved with the security side of the medical environment. That has me both excited and hesitant. Excited because this type of client really needs the services my company offers; Hesitant because I will now be involved very closely with bean counter types. When I was a locksmith the beans were of a much smaller size. So decisions made will be far reaching financially and have an impact on the company’s success. So the pressure with this type of client will be more substantial.
I am not complaining, mind you, just trying to convey the challenges that lie before me. I’m not even certain how much blogging I will be able to continue, at least in the short term. I am grateful for this opportunity even though you may not be getting that yet. I guess I am thinking through how to handle these next few weeks of more training and more exposure to the new environment. It’s a little disconcerting to have to manage people that actually know the process better than the manager. I plan to make that change but have to be patient in getting to that point. I suppose every manager goes through that type of atmosphere in a new job. But knowing it and dealing with it are not always the same when it comes to executing the correct path.
I will try and keep you up to date about my exploits when possible. I truly hope that everyone reading this has an exceptional Thanksgiving and says a little prayer for me to succeed in my new endeavor. I know I can do it……now I just need to prove it.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Life and Change
Life is full of surprises. All who are sentient beings and have any degree of self awareness know this to be true. Many of us who even think we might be in control of most any part of our lives only need to roll out of bed in the morning to see how our arrogance is misplaced.
Now we may be in control of some minor details but the masterpiece of life is not ours to paint but rather to strive to find where in the painting we are to be included. I believe we spend the majority of our lives squinting at that painting and wondering. I think the question of why are we here is much less relevant than where are we here.
We each have our own gifts and talents to add to the mix of humanity. We may not even yet be fully aware of what those gifts may be. The ultimate challenge and satisfaction in life is to actually discover our own intimate purpose in this world. Some sadly never really discover this and therefore never fully answer that question within themselves.
My mind has been obsessed with this point of life lately for more personal reasons. I am in deep contemplation about where I fit in this world as far as my career is concerned. I am about to embark upon a significant change in the direction of my career path and am praying that I am making the right decision. For those of you who know me at all know that I don’t make major changes in my life without a tremendous amount of retrospection and self examination. Am I pursuing this path because it is God’s will or my own? I’m really hoping the answer to that question is both.
We really glorify our maker by not only finding our way in this world but by seizing upon it and making a real difference. How do we do this? It’s for each of us to individually discover. Life is abundantly full of choices.
So I am making a shift in my career. I am both excited and a bit intimidated. I suppose both of those qualities are healthy. Without either of those I would question the purpose of the shift.
I have received just an incredible amount of encouragement and support. My young yet sometimes wise daughter points out that I have a number of people that care about me. That fact is not lost on me I assure you. I am feeling a bit like George Bailey these days when he came to the realization that your wealth can really be measured by the amount of people you have touched and therefore touch you back.
My thanks to all who have prayed for me and encouraged me and foremost my thanks and love go to my dear wife.
Now we may be in control of some minor details but the masterpiece of life is not ours to paint but rather to strive to find where in the painting we are to be included. I believe we spend the majority of our lives squinting at that painting and wondering. I think the question of why are we here is much less relevant than where are we here.
We each have our own gifts and talents to add to the mix of humanity. We may not even yet be fully aware of what those gifts may be. The ultimate challenge and satisfaction in life is to actually discover our own intimate purpose in this world. Some sadly never really discover this and therefore never fully answer that question within themselves.
My mind has been obsessed with this point of life lately for more personal reasons. I am in deep contemplation about where I fit in this world as far as my career is concerned. I am about to embark upon a significant change in the direction of my career path and am praying that I am making the right decision. For those of you who know me at all know that I don’t make major changes in my life without a tremendous amount of retrospection and self examination. Am I pursuing this path because it is God’s will or my own? I’m really hoping the answer to that question is both.
We really glorify our maker by not only finding our way in this world but by seizing upon it and making a real difference. How do we do this? It’s for each of us to individually discover. Life is abundantly full of choices.
So I am making a shift in my career. I am both excited and a bit intimidated. I suppose both of those qualities are healthy. Without either of those I would question the purpose of the shift.
I have received just an incredible amount of encouragement and support. My young yet sometimes wise daughter points out that I have a number of people that care about me. That fact is not lost on me I assure you. I am feeling a bit like George Bailey these days when he came to the realization that your wealth can really be measured by the amount of people you have touched and therefore touch you back.
My thanks to all who have prayed for me and encouraged me and foremost my thanks and love go to my dear wife.
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