You better watch out!

I'm presenting at a breakfast meeting in the Loop December 18th. My topic is a little cliche. Okay, cliche but relevant! I can't talk to anyone these days without hearing about something they would like to change. If you've read the blog posts before this, you know I'm big on people taking charge of their situation. It also happens to be the time of year people start making silly resoulutions. Why make a silly resoulution that doesn't stick: something you don't really care about to make a commitment.

I suggest that this year we make resoulutions that really have an effect on our lives. Here are a few of my suggestions...

• Find an elevator speech that doesn't seem like an elevator speech (Don't ALWAYS try to sell people)
• Find a new niche of clientell
• Take the time to tweak and old idea. Shine that puppy up!
• Spend and hour or two doing work with a Chamber of Commerce
• Keep all of your appointments for, at least, two months and mark the change in the attitudes of those around you.

I guess what I'm saying is that sometimes we focus on things that we think matter but really don't. "I resolve to loose 30 lbs." Yeah, you can resolve all you want but that tredmill in your basement hasn't seen the light of day in 5 years. Do something that will make a real impact where you are... the workplace.

...And the horse you rode in on!

You know that crabby person that has an office or cubical near you? I'm sure you do. I'm sure we all do. It's like the crazy relative. We all have 'em and sometimes would love to get rid of them. The real problem is when we notice ourselves getting that way. I'm not going to tell you to "play nice" all the time. In fact, sometimes you have the right to be as cheesed-off as you want.

Tell the barista that "now is not the time to be chatting it up with your co-workers when you're five orders deep". (Well, after they have made your coffee.) Walk out of the documentary about Michael Jackson's close, but never realized stage show. Ask for your money back. Not because it is wrong to make money off the almost comeback of a hermit-like man-boy dead celebrity, but because it sucked!

If you're angry it is good to have a reason behind the anger. At least then you know what you're getting-over.

IMC Chicagoland- breakfast meeting

Area Breakfast for Consultants- Loop

Day: November 20, 2009

Time: 7:30 AM

Place: Chicago Consulting

8 S. Michigan Ave

Suite 3600

Chicago, IL

You are invited to attend this month's Area Breakfast for Consultants hosted at Chicago Consulting by the IMC Loop Chapter. This event is open to more than just IMC members. Don't be shy.

Please RSVP by 11/18/2009 to Anjali Seefeldt by clicking on her name or by calling (920) 475- 9496.

What do you mean, "you don't get it"?

I've been wrestling with the idea that great messages are rarely heard or heeded by the people that would benefit from those words of wisdom. Granted, I am a bit more aware of the usage of quotes as someone who does public speaking as an adjunct to the job. I have my favorites... Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson, George Carlin, etc. Unfortunately, people in general, but especially kids are now taking words of wisdom from people that are not wise or even remotely intelligent. (And I thought it was bad when I had to explain what was Led Zeppelin)

We've passed the point in the education of and for the masses when education meant something. In other countries all over the world, children and adults struggle to enroll in schools. Education is something that is earned, not something that is simply given. Here in the United States we have truancy issues: the children simply skip school for no reason. Parents and guardians will fight the school to keep their children from the best education possible. Most schools will lower their standards just to keep the students from not going through the system. I am fed up with children and parents not doing what they can to make sure their children get a quality education.

I've also heard the saying, " the world needs ditch-diggers too." I agree, the world need people for manual labor. I just want those digging ditches to be able to read the manual on how to operate the machinery. It is not too much to ask a parent to look out for their child. It is the job of a child/student to work for their education... not just glean information off Google and treat it as fact. We, as a country, cannot just stand by as our education system gets dumbed-down to meet the standards of the public. It is the job of the public to raise their standards to that of the learning institutions. I want to be able to have a conversation with another person in this country without having to explain all of my references that deal with the Constitution of the United States of America. Class dismissed!