Saturday, April 18, 2015

Share Your Knowledge - Grow Others

"When you become a leader, success is all about growing others. It's about making the people who work for you smarter, bigger, and bolder. Nothing you do anymore as an individual matters except how you nurture and support your team and help its members increase their self-confidence. Yes, you will get your share of attention from up above - but only inasmuch as your team wins. Put another way: Your success as a leader will come not from what you do but from the reflected glory of your team." - Jack Welch

I spent the day doing something that I haven't done in a long time. I shared my knowledge and helped grow others.

A few weeks ago a great friend of mine contacted me for the possibility of being a guest speaker as a part of a panel to speak with undergraduates from his alma mater. The topic was Life After Graduation. It encompassed the feelings, the struggle, the preparation, resumes, interviews, etc.



Today was our day to make a difference in the world, if not for many, but for the few. Our panel of 6 professionals conducted 3 workshops to provide guidance and insight to undergraduates whose shoes we were in not too long ago. We had a great turnout of attendees who participated, asked questions, and showed enthusiasm for their futures. Each of the speakers brought to the table extensive insight, not just into their chosen career paths, but also to the general concerns of post-undergrad life.

The responses we received were amazing. Our connection was strong. Our discussions were thoughtful and on topic. And our respect for each other was built. These particular undergrads have a great future ahead of them. I commend them on their diligence and forward thinking to put together a series of workshops in this nature.

I hope that I can be a part of something like this again. It was a real honor to be asked to speak and participate in such a valuable topic. It reminded me of the days I devoted to enhancing the lives of students and the reward I felt after every session of guiding them, answering questions, and solving problems.

I look forward to sharing more of my knowledge with whomever inquires. We are one infinitely large team...

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Sports Over Time

When I was growing up, I played probably every sport there was available in my youth. I was an outdoors kid too; we went camping, rafting, biking, hiking. But in terms of playing sports, there was Tee-ball, then baseball, soccer, football, and of course basketball.

I was in love with playing and watching basketball. I watched the NBA on TV every weekend. I watched NBA Inside Stuff with Ahmad Rashad. I listened to Marv Albert and Bob Costas commentate. I collected basketball cards. I had jerseys. I wore Reebox Pumps. I played it in gym class. I went to the park on Friday afternoons. I played in the school yard after school.
I was in the recreational leagues, then the middle school team, then the Freshman team, then JV. I played intramural basketball in college. I played in different cities and in different tournaments. And then I played in corporate leagues after work hours as an adult. It was my first sports love. 

But lately, say maybe the past 3 to 5 years, my interests have shifted. I've tried my hand at golf. It's a fun individual sport and a good way to let off some steam, but it's expensive. Tennis is another sport that I've put some time into. Bought a couple of racquets, tennis balls, and found local courts to play on into the evening hours, but my endurance and my backhand needs work. Then I trained for a triathlon. Swim, bike, run. I accomplished it. And I continued to do those exercises at the gym. But it's getting boring and repetitive. I'm sure I'll be keeping it up because it's a great way to stay healthy. Every once in a while, I throw in some time on the heavy bag and box for a while. That's a lot of fun. 

It seems like over time, the sports that I find interesting and prefer to participate are those that are less contact with others. They are more individual sports and more about mental toughness and self discipline. This realization comes as I watch a soccer game on TV. I suppose the excitement of team sports I save for watching, rather then playing. Contact sports are for a younger man. And as I get older, I find it more important to keep my body functional and healthy. 

What am I watching these days? I'm watching a lot of soccer, a good amount of boxing, and some baseball. 

Who am I supporting?


Sports will always be a part of my life. There are so many lessons to be learned, battles to be won, and support to be given. I will always look to sports for example, for encouragement, and for excitement. God knows that we'll always need excitement especially the older we get. 

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Feelings and Emotion



It's not easy or normal for me to show emotion on a daily basis. A lot of the time, I go through my daily life as a series of motions to get through each day. Most things are routine, like showering, going to work, checking email, cooking dinner, and sleeping at a certain time. So it's easy to get lost in the monotony of the cycle. 

I'm going to try to do a better job showing my feelings. I started yesterday. Valentine's Day is a heart-warming day, and I wanted to prove it on this cold, February morning. So I bought these for my Valentine.



It's a start. I know I still have to be more vocal about it. It's not just about listening and engaging a conversation, it's about talking about my own feelings as well. 

I'm a work-in-process, as we all are...


Friday, January 30, 2015

Practice Makes Perfect...?

My answer... not always. Case and point, driving. It has been my experience that there is no correlation between the number of years of experience and the quality of the driver.

Every single time that I'm on the road, all I see are terrible drivers. One missed accident here, a near side-swipe there, failure to signal, limited driving distance, short stopping... the list is endless. It happens left and right.

Driving is one of the few acts where practice boosts confidence to take risk rather than make perfect drivers. Most other things people do, you can gain confidence and become better. For example, the more you play a sport, the better you become at playing it. The more frequently you practice an instrument, the cleaner and crisper your music sounds. The longer your tenure at your job, the more you learn, the more efficient you become, and the better is your end work product.



Drivers seem to get worse with more experience.  Maybe that's why insurance companies can charge the premium for coverage. I feel like that almost justifies the high cost.

How can we combat the rise of the poor driver? To me, it's easy. Like most professionals in any career path, there is some sort of continuing education. Drivers should be required to take their drivers test every few years. Maybe every time their car goes for registration renewal, they have to get their driving skills re-evaluated. Who knows? It's something to try to make things better. And in the process, jobs could be created, money could be made, and safety could be insured. And maybe insurance premiums could be reduced!

Did I just find a solution to a 1st world problem?

Be careful out there...

Thursday, January 29, 2015

The 7th Continent

"I think part of the appeal of Antarctica is experiencing some sort of power, the forces of the natural world." - Jon Krakauer


I can't believe that we're booked for a trip to ANTARCTICA! It's going to be an 11-day cruise this December 2015. I imagine this is going to be another one of our adventure trips. Like our trek through the Himalayas to Everest Base Camp, it will be cold and bright. And like our safari in the Serengeti, we're going to see a bunch of animals that we normally never see. It's going to be an amazing experience, and I can't wait to live it!

Everyday, we will be able to get off the boat at least twice, and via Zodiac, we can set foot on land! We have other options like snowshoeing, sea kayaking, hiking, and camping!

I never imagined having this opportunity. (Thanks babe!) Looking forward to checking this off my bucket-list.




Wednesday, January 28, 2015

"Of all the senses, sight must be the most delightful." - Helen Keller

I went to the eye doctor today. After going through all the routine tests and checkups, Dr. Esperon told me that my right eye prescription is going up slightly, while the left is steady.

I inquired about some reading I had done on the internet about vision. Somewhere out there, the idea that your vision stops changing at a certain age was somehow ingrained into my mind. So, naturally, I asked about it.



His response was that your vision can plateau in your 20s, but that doesn't mean that it won't change. Your vision can actually move up or down, good or bad by fractions of a point as you age. And here I am thinking that it would only get worse!

Here's to another year of sight (good or bad), the ability to see beautiful world, and the vision to see things through to the end!

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

This happens far too often...

I've been lagging on my blogging and it always catches up to me.

It's a New Year, and I'm going to try this again. Let's hope for some regularity...


Recap:

June 2014 - World Cup - Brazil - Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Iguazu Falls



June 2014 - Engagement Photos



August 2014 - Chris & Melissa's Wedding - Los Angeles, CA



October 2014 - Washington DC Trip



November 2014 - Save The Dates delivered



December 2014 - Wedding Invitations mailed