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Archive for June, 2016

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Attention basketball fans is it the Warriors, Spurs, Thunder, Heat, Clippers or Celtics?

Wednesday, June 29th, 2016

Kevin Durant, in less than 36 hours, will be a free agent. The rumors are swirling! The meetings are scheduled, and then I guess it will be a decision or has the decision already been made?

Kevin Durant is a superstar! Pure and simple, and he makes every team out there better no matter how little talent they have… why? Because he is that good.

Assuming the media reports are correct, Kevin has meetings set up with the Warriors, Spurs, Thunder, Heat, Clippers and Celtics with the Heat, Warriors, and the Thunder as the best chance to sign him.

What am I missing? Isn’t he going to decide to sign a two year deal with an opt out clause after year one with OKC?

  • I assume he is just going thru the process to experience it?
  • Perhaps he is trying to gather some competitive information?
  • Maybe he is doing this to critique all the visits in case he is a GM or owner then he’ll know what to do/not do?

You tell me your thoughts:

  • Do you agree that he resigns with the Thunder?
  • If not, where do you think he ends up?
  • Why do you think he is going thru the process?

I look forward to reading your comments.

Posted in Business, Sports | Post Comments (3) »

Attention music & Sports lovers – please help me pick a song!!

Monday, June 27th, 2016

Over the weekend I was at a Texas Rangers/Boston Red Sox game and with each batter the music would change. I didn’t realize it until I saw it on the jumbo Tron but that is referred to as the WalkUp Experience which means, every player listens to their favorite song for maybe 5 seconds as they are entering the batter’s box. Clearly it gets the player pumped up and increases the experience all the way around. I get it and, although I don’t love or know some of today’s music (please stop laughing), I like the fact that they do that.

I was wondering if I played in the major leagues what would my WalkUp Experience be? With that said I picked a few songs that I might consider:

  1. Pat Benetar – Hit me with your best shot
  2. Bruce Springsteen – Born in the USA
  3. The Cars – Lets go
  4. Hall & Oats – Maneater

If you can stop laughing for a quick minute I would love to know:

  • What you think of my song choices?
  • If you were picking my song what would it be?

Thanks in advance for helping me out!

I look forward to reading your comments.

Posted in General Comments, Sports | Post Comments (9) »

What type of leader do most people follow?

Friday, June 24th, 2016

Over the years I have given more and more thought to leadership. What qualities does it take to be a good leader? Clearly there are many types of leaders. People can lead out of fear, they can also lead by practicing what they preach.

Today’s question is centered around what type of leader do I think most people will follow. I believe it is someone:

  1. Who is a GREAT teacher!
  2. Who is fair, firm and consistent
  3. Who leads by example
  4. Who finds a way to get the most out of someone – basically really dig deep into that untapped potential
  5. Who sees the world a little bit different
  6. Who moves things forward

What do you think?

  • What type of leader do you think most people follow?

    • I look forward to reading your comments.

    Posted in Business | Comments Off on What type of leader do most people follow?

Work Ethic…….After a certain age is that something you can teach?

Wednesday, June 22nd, 2016

Recently I have had a discussion/debate with a few friends regarding work ethic. The discussion was centered around can you teach work ethic and if you have it where did it come from – meaning was it self-taught or who influenced you to get to that point.

A few days ago I sent an email to ten people who I believe have a strong work ethic. No surprise, eight people responded (thanks J.S., T.U, S.S, A.B., G.S., S.C., M.H., R.H.) in less than an hour – perhaps that supports their strong work ethic.

When I asked people why they have a strong work ethic here are a few responses:

  1. I think my strong work ethic first and foremost is a product of the way I was raised.
  2. “Good enough” is not something I ever strive for.
  3. I have a competitive desire to succeed and optimize my potential. When I see others doing well, I say to myself, “Why not me? I can do that too.”
  4. My desire to achieve something. Be a success. I wanted it all from a young age.
  5. Fear of failure and take nothing for granted.
  6. As I am the earner in my family I feel responsible to provide.
  7. I believe work ethic is tied to passion and purpose in the work you’re doing.
  8. The second influence I would point to is where you are working. What does that environment and culture dictate to the individual? Is it a group of hard workers, doers as I would call them? Or is it a group of clock punchers that are just doing the minimum job required? This molds each of us and we tend to play up to our competition to use a tennis reference. I try to surround myself with friends, colleagues, and mentors that are doers and that pushes me to do the same.

My belief is that you can teach work ethic at a young age but it is something that is very difficult to do after someone is in their mid-twenties. People can certainly change later in life but my position is it happens very rarely and the effort of trying to teach that usually doesn’t pay off.

Ok your turn:

  • If you had to guess, what % of people do you think have a strong work ethic?
  • Why do you think people have a strong work ethic?
  • Do you think that is something that can be taught to someone in their twenties?

    • I look forward to reading your comments.

    Posted in Business, Life | Post Comments (2) »

Yes Cleveland won the NBA Championship – here is what it really means!

Monday, June 20th, 2016

Here are 10 thoughts on what Cleveland winning the NBA Championship really means!

10. The Golden State Warriors choked.
9. Harrison Barnes has played his last game in Golden State.
8. The Golden State Warriors had the greatest regular season in the history of the NBA and that’s all!
7. J.R. Smith just made a lot of money. Yes he will be leaving Cleveland and be the man in a new city and yes he will struggle.
6. Kevin Love has played his last game with the Cavaliers – he didn’t play well, isn’t worth the money and will be traded!
5. The parade on Wednesday in Cleveland will be special. They have waited a very long time for a championship and the fans will come out in droves.
4. The coaching change Dan Gilbert made in the middle of the season – was the right move for Cleveland.
3. Golden State really needs to concentrate on getting a solid big man for next year.
2. Curry & Thompson are amazing but every team now has a blueprint to beat them next year!
1. LeBron is amazing – he carried this team with his will & athleticism. His critics should all praise him now!

  • What do you think it means?
  • What do you think of my list?

I look forward to reading your comments.

Posted in Sports | Post Comments (6) »

Happy Birthday Dad!

Friday, June 17th, 2016

Year after year today has always been a special day in my life; but unfortunately, this year I have mixed feelings about it. Today is my dad’s 82nd birthday which, in a lot of ways, is great. He has been an amazing father, husband, teacher, mentor, disciplinarian and basically my Mr. Everything. The past year hasn’t been kind to my dad. It has included many falls, broken bones, trips to the hospital, lots of different medication, and little or no cure for what he has. All of this adds up to a sharp decline in his health.

I continue to remember all of the good days with him. The trips to Fenway Park to watch our beloved Red Sox, the family vacation to Cape Cod, and the times he would chase me around the pool table because I did something foolish. All of these memories help me get past what he is dealing with now.

Dad, Happy Birthday! I know you don’t exactly know what is going on but I hope over the years I told you enough times what you meant to me – which is everything!

For anyone who is reading this post with Father’s Day a few days away, please take a minute or two and tell your dad that you love him and what he means to you. For anyone who has lost their dad, I hope this weekend you can think of him a little more often than normal and recall all the joy you had with him.

I look forward to reading your comments.

Posted in Life | Post Comments (5) »

My mom is a rock! Pure & simple!

Wednesday, June 15th, 2016

Over the last few years my dad’s health has been failing and most of the time my mom is a rock. At 80 years old she cares for him day after day and has the stamina to not slow down! My parents have been married for 55+ years and have had an amazing life together. My dad was fortunate to retire at a very early life and for the most part has been healthy since collecting his last paycheck decades ago. I always knew my dad was strong but I must say I think my mom is actually stronger. She is dealing with the greatest challenge of her life and while she watches day in and day out a loved one, her loved one and Mr. everything to her battle his declining health she continues to be strong.

Yes she has bad days and has help but most of the time deals with the situation head on and has learned at an older age to be more independent. I can only imagine how difficult that must be and day after day and she amazes me.

I miss my dad more than words could describe. Yes he is alive but he is a different dad than he used to be. My siblings and I see it when we visit or hear it daily when we call but my mom lives with it daily.

I pride myself on learning something every day. I guess todays’ learning is it’s never too late to step up, never too late to be strong and never too late to be in control and stay positive!

Thanks mom – for continuing to teach all of us!

Posted in Life | Post Comments (2) »

Your kids are going on a play date….. who pays?

Monday, June 13th, 2016

Recently my kids have been going on more and more play dates. All of my kids have really nice friends and anytime someone comes over to our house, no matter what we are doing, I always pay.. And when the reverse happens, I do give them money and more times than not they never use any of it.

To be honest I have no idea the protocol and never discuss it with the other parents, I just think that is the way it should be.

Help…am I right?

  • What should happen?
  • What have you done in the past?
  • Since things are more expensive now does that come into play?

I look forward to your comments and setting me straight.

Posted in Life | Post Comments (3) »

Help! I have a new pet and I kind of want to get rid of it….

Friday, June 10th, 2016

As you read this post you are probably thinking he is referring to a dog or a cat but unfortunately that isn’t the case. Over the past month I have noticed a bunch of holes and what I thought looked almost like hoof prints. Was it a Coyote? Deer? Elephant? Nope, nope, and nope! Well the answer to the question has been answered – it is a somewhat small but prehistoric looking Armadillo that I have named Alfred. No idea why I chose that name or if Alfred is even a male, but it kind of sounded right so we will go with it. My partner in crime (MD) discovered our little Alfred walking around the pool in the middle of the day. He actually came within 5 feet of her….Much to her surprise.

Yes – he is interesting to look at.

Yes – I have done some research and he is pretty much blind.

And Yes – I want him to go away.

I don’t want him to be hurt.

But he needs to go away!

  • So help! How do I get rid of little Alfred?
  • Have you dealt with a similar problem?
  • A friend of mine mentioned pouring mothballs down the hole – has anyone done that?

I look forward to reading your helpful comments.

P.S. Please stop laughing – I need him to go away!

Posted in Advice, Life | Post Comments (6) »

Hello researchers, what do you think of this announcement?

Wednesday, June 8th, 2016

Twitter Turns 12,000 Users Into Quick-Research Panel for Marketers.

Twitter recently announced they have a new initiative aimed at giving advertisers insights from 12,000 users chosen by the social media platform. Dubbed Twitter Insiders, the program’s goal is to create a one-stop shop for advertisers to recruit, design, and collect live research.

The company is offering this service to their advertisers. Twitter will not pay them for their participation, but respondents will get rewards from gift cards to electronics such as iPads or smartphones.

The group can also be asked to take pictures, test video, and analyze facial expressions from images, among other things. The Insiders will have access to a devoted message board and, if they wish, can poll other users in the same fashion as they do on Twitter itself.

Years ago I coined the phrase FATWIN which was a combination of letters from Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn that I felt would have an impact on our industry and here is an example of just that.

  • What do you think of this announcement?
  • Would you like to be a Twitter Insider?
  • How much success do you think the program will have?

I look forward to reading your comments.

Posted in Business | Post Comments (2) »

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