Dare To Be Great

So I was here when I came across this article. The article basically talks about how it is not some magical talent one is born with that makes certain people great at what they do. Rather it is contstant practice and a rigourous work ethic. In the article they mention people like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Warren Buffet; They talk about how these individuals as well as others became great at their chosen fields of profession.

The article made me wonder. Am I really working to reach my full potential and more importandly am I working to become great. Well in my case the answer is NO mainly because I am no where near where I want to be professionally. I am on the right path but there are a few key moves that I have to make in the immediate future before I get to where I want to be professionally. Now I believe that you have to really have an appreciation for what it is you are doing in order to have the kind of rigorous work ethic that can lead to greatness. For example I love to analyze processes and find out how they can be better and more efficient in order to create a win/win situation for all parties involved. You know the idea of SYNERGY. I know that until I am in a positon where I can do this I don’t think I can be really be happy with my professional situation.

How many people know what they love to do? More importantly how many people know what they love to do and actually persue it? I know I am persuing what I love to do what about you?

True Friendships Never Die

When I woke up on Tuesday I had a voicemail. I checked the message and was surprised that it was one of my homeboys that I have not spoken to in quite some time. About two and half years to be exact. Although I did not have time to call him back that day I did call him back yesterday.

We reminisced about the good days when we were back in school and all the things that we got into. It was as if we just picked right back up where we left off. Now I know this is a bit of a cliche but true friendships last forever. True you may not speak to your friend as much or see them as often but they run across your mind from time to time and no matter how much they may have pissed you off in the past you still ginuinely care about them and wish them well.

So to all of my friends who I may not see or speak to on a regular basis any longer please know that I really do appreciate your friendship.

New Year Endless Possibilities

You know what? I always love the new year because with it comes a certain kind of refreshment. Knowing that you have 12 months in front of you to do what you wish with and make something happen. It’s sort of like an empty canvas for a painter or a flashing cusor on a computer for an author. The story is untold and waiting for you to act out your part. Sure you can say that each day is like this but it’s just not the same.

Last January started out rather tragic for me. I lost one of my line brothers (frat brothers) within the first week and a half of the year and then about a week after that my cousin passed away and then shortly after that as in a couple of days later another one of my line brothers lost his real life younger brother. So as you can probably guess I was pretty down in the first several months of 2006.

But with a new year comes new hope and new aspirations. I have never been one to make new years resolutions to me that is just a waste of time. Instead I try to see what it is that I can do to make my overall situation better. More like life changes (i.e. read more, eat healthier, watch less television) you know things that can make me a better person overall taking more than a year but rather a lifetime commitment. So this year I will be taking the GRE so that I can hopefully be in Graduate School to obtain my Masters Degree starting in the Fall of 2008. To study for this test and score well is my main goal for the new year. That and getting accepted to the programs that I will be applying to.

Do you have any rituals that you do every new year?

You Know What Really Grinds My Gears!

For all of those who do not watch Family Guy there is an episode of the show where Peter Griffin gets his own short segment on the local news station entitiled yep you guessed it “You Know What Really Grinds My Gears”. On his segment he picks one topic each day that really annoys him.

Well this post is about something that annoyed the hell out of me yesterday. I dropped my car off to get an alignment at 12:30 pm. When I dropped it off at the garage the man told me that it would probably be 5:30 before they were done because they had several cars in front of mine. I said that was ok and proceded to go home. 6 1/2 hours later I get a phone call from him asking me if I want to get my air filter replaced for $35. Now this really pissed me off. First off if you are going to call me 1 hour after you said my car would be finished I need you to be telling me that I need to come pick up my car because you all are through servicing it. What I don’t want to here is you on the other end of the phone trying to sell me on an overpriced filter that I can buy at autozone for $15 and they will put it in for me. I tell him that I would pass on the filter he then says he will call me back when the car is finished. Another hour goes by and I decide to go up there. So I have my friend drop me off and there was my car sitting there finished and ready to go. Now I am not sure how long my car was sitting out there but I do know that I didn’t recieve a call telling me it was done.

WTH is up with people in the automobile service industry thinking they can do whatever they want.

That really Grinds My Gears!

Family Guy is Hilarious!

This is one of the funniest Family Guy scenes I have ever seen. I decided to post this since I really don’t have a whole lot to talk about today. YouTube is the lazy bloggers fantasy.

I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did. Hopefully I will have more to talk about tomorrow. This whole blogging thing is kind of new to me so bear with me. That is if anyone starts reading this.

Bout Time Martin Came to DVD!!!

For all of you who don’t know the first season of “Martin” is finally being released on DVD. January 2, 2007 to be exact. I just wanted to take some time out to think back on what made this show so funny to me.

This was one of my favorite episodes. Bruh Man stole Martin’s CD play and Martin went all Nino Brown on everybody. LOL! If you did not like Martin something is seriously wrong with you. Too bad dude fell off. I miss tv like this but thanks to the powers that be I will be able to catch any episode in the first season when ever I want to.

Another thing that made Martin so funny were the characters that he played. Who is your favorite Martin character?

Sheneneh

Otis The Security Guard

Momma Payne

Jerome The Playa

Elroy The Mechanic

Roscoe

So I Graduated……..Now What?

So this past Saturday I went to my line brother’s graduation. Now normally this would not be all that significant since all people who attend college should indeed make it a point to finish what they started. This day was a very grand occassion worthy of celebration. You ask why…well let me tell you why. My freshman year started in the fall of 1998. I crossed my fraternity in 2002 and graduated in May of 2003. Well this past Saturday one of my youngest line brothers who crossed in 2002 with me graduated. So he has been in school for about 6 years. Granted he was an engineering major but damn that is a long time to be in school. So needless to say we were all happy for him.

Now this event made me reminisce a little on that day back in May of 2003 as I sat and ignored the commencement speaker just waiting to walk across that stage and get a piece of paper stating that I had successfully completed all of the requirements for a Bachelors of Business Admin. degree. I had no job, I had no money, I had no plan, but I did have a student loan to pay off and I did have ambition. Which is like having heart but no athletic talent whatsoever.

Now we supposedly live in an advancing society in these United State of America. Computers have gone from taking up entire rooms all the way to sitting on your desk, cars can now be run on electricity as well as gas, the little thing calle the internet allows us to be connected at a moments notice to people all over the globe, etc. But why in the world have we not advanced in the area of education. True we have learned more in certain fields but what does school actually prepare you for? Throughout elementary, middle and high school I learned about science, math, english, some form of history and I do acknowledge the fact that all of these things form a foundation that all of us need, but what prepares you for the real world. Why are there not classes that teach smart money management, investing, how to write a resume, home buying, etc. Now I am sure that some schools out there somewhere may have courses that teach this sort of thing but why is it not a staple in public education? You go thorughout your educational career without knowing how to survive. Next thing you know, if you are lucky, you have a college degree but no survival skills. While in college I had to take 2 semesters of English, 2 semesters of History and two semesters of an “Elective” (i.e. art appreciation, music appreciation, etc.) but not one class on how to survive once you graduate was given. Why not make an investment course part of the core curriculum or money management or have a class that allows you to work in different companies or at the same company in different positions to get a feel for what you will be doing upon graduation? Maybe even a course that teaches you how to find a job and helps you to make a job a reality after graduation.

History, I love history by the way, is one of the mandatory core courses that most people could do without. Hell I venture to say that you have had your fill of history by the time you get to the 13th grade. Some of these mandatory core classes at these colleges and universities can and should be replaced. Because who wants to graduate from any institution of higher learning owing thousands of dollars only to graduate having to say NOW WHAT?