Kevin's Random Thoughts

Merry Christmas from My Family to You and Yours

Faith Hope Family Religious Christmas Card

Find unique and Personalized Christmas cards at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

What A Difference A Year Makes

I don't think I'll ever forget it. Friday morning...just before lunch...meeting the CEO...everything seemed normal...until...

"We're cutting back and have to let you go...yada, yada, yada..." I didn't hear much after that first sentence.

You've heard the saying, "It hit me like a ton of bricks." That's like a pillow fight compared to how that statement hit me.

Completely out of the blue.

I never saw it coming and after the shock wore off, I became as angry as I have ever been. And most of that anger was directed at God. I sent this tweet: "I've never been angrier at God than I am right now. Maybe you've been there, maybe not. Prayers are appreciated."

You need to understand that this was not the first career challenge I had faced. Less than 2 years earlier, the company I worked for went bankrupt owing me a large sum of money in unpaid salary and unreimbursed expenses. And my wife and I were on our way to digging out of that hole when this bomb was dropped.

Not everyone appreciated that I tweeted my anger at God that day, and that's okay. I think God understood. And I know He never left me because of it. In fact, I think He might have drawn even closer...just to prove Himself to me again. And of course He doesn't have to.

In the year since that fateful Friday, so much has happened. God sustained us through a period of unemployment. I have been the Vice President of Operations in a commercial real estate firm for 9 months at a higher salary than I was making previously. We have finished paying off the $50,000 debt the previous company left us holding. And the company that let me go is struggling to stay in business. I am not happy about that but it does at times seem like God is reminding me that He knows what's best for me and my family.

Maybe you're going through a tough time. Maybe you just got hit by that ton of bricks. I'm not going to tell you it'll get better, because I don't know what YOU'RE feeling and I know that kind of trivial statement can sound hollow in the middle of the storm.

But I will tell you not to give up on God.

He's there...just keep running toward Him.

What a difference a year makes...

Are you struggling with something? Been run over by a tractor trailer...or hit by a ton of bricks? How are you dealing with it?

Leadership Lessons From Man VS. Food

1. The Plate Is Only So Big - The food challenges often require Adam to eat enourmous amounts of food. This food is usually piled high and wide, to the point of overflowing, on the plate. Not one more thing can fit. The same holds true for leaders, and for their teams. One's plate is only so big. Leaders, and their team members, can only do so much at one time. When leaders try to cram more on the plate than will reasonably fit, things, maybe the most important things, start to fall off. Great leaders understand that it is critically important to know the limits of the "plate" and to keep extra helpings off of it.
2. Too Much Of A Good Thing Is Not - So much of the food on "Man VS. Food" is incredibly appealling. However, if I had to eat as much of it as is required on those challenges, I am certain I would never want to see that food again. The same hold true for leaders. No matter how passionate leaders are about their career, or other endeavors, one cannot live it and breathe it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for long. You will become frustrated and tired, and you ultimately risk losing that passion that has made you successful. Leaders need a break. Leaders need balance. Leaders need to be able to recharge and refocus. Great leaders know that too much of even a great thing can be problematic in the long run.
3. Establish Reasonable Time Parameters - The time in which the food challenges must be completed is pretty ridiculous and most times, they are not achieved. Imagine if they were cut in half. Too often, leaders set unreasonable deadlines for themselves and for their teams. They cause immediate frustration because everyone knows that meeting the deadline is not possible. Great leaders raise the bar and set reasonable time expectations for themselves and for their teams. They know that great results might take a little longer, but they are well worth it in the long run.
4. Leftovers Are OK - My wife will tell you that I'm not a huge fan of leftovers. This show has me thinking about things differently. There's no way I could finish the food required in the food challenges. In order to complete it, I would have to come back later when I was rested and refreshed. And that's OK. The same holds true for leaders and their work. You will not always be able to finish everything on the "to do" list in one day. Great leaders understand that it's okay to leave some things incomplete and to come back to them at a different time, when rested and refreshed. Everything does not need to be done today.

I Do Not Dislike Sarah Palin, but I Wish She Would Go Away

Like a lot of people I know, I often avoid political discussion because it has proven to be very difficult to have that kind of conversation, especially over topics where there is disagreement, without it becoming negative and personal. That does not mean that I do not have opinions, or even that I do not enjoy political discussion. And I am diving in head first today.

Full disclosure...I am an independent with conservative leanings in general. I have voted for Democrats and for Republicans. I did not vote for President Obama. I let you know this not to influence your views, but to give you an idea as to my perspective and where I am coming from. My point is this:

I wish Sarah Palin would fade back into the snowy, Alaskan landscape.

There are many things I have liked about Sarah Palin. She was an unknown who burst on the scene unexpectedly. I believe she rallied people to the political process who otherwise would not have been involved. She seemed like a real "every-woman". Things have changed.

I now see Sarah Palin as an opportunist. The tragedy in Arizona has reinforced my belief. She was unfairly blamed by some, even if indirectly, for creating, or contributing to, the atmosphere that led to this terrible event. The prudent thing for her to do was to remain silent. The more we learn about the shooter, the more dubious and outlandish that kind of blame game seems. Additionally, and more importantly, this tragedy is not about Sarah Palin or her detractors. It is about the victims of this heinous crime. But she chose to speak.

As I read the text of her "speech", much of it is harmless enough. However, I have three primary problems with it.

First, she seems to be taking a "Palin-as-victim" stance. The real victims are those who have died, or who are hospitalized, because they took an undeserved bullet, and their families. Sarah Palin is no victim. She chose the arena in which she plays and must accept the good and bad that comes from it. 

Second, she espouses a double-standard. She makes the argument that her words had nothing to do with the tragedy in Arizona (and I agree). However, she cautions her detractors against making those accusation for fear that it would further incite potential violence. Ms. Palin cannot have it both ways. Either words can cause/affect actions by others or they cannot. You cannot have it both ways.

Finally, and most importantly, with this response, she has attempted to make this national tragedy about her. As I wrote before, it is not about her. And this makes her an opportunist. She is attempting to use this event to bring attention to herself and to support her future financial endeavors and her political aspirations.

Political opportunists are not new. We have had Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson as opportunists representing a more liberal ideology for years. Now the conservative right has Sarah Palin (and others). None of them benefit the process and we would be better off without any of them in it.

I know many conservative-leaning people like Sarah Palin and that the fact that she has jumped into the spotlight. Many hope she runs for President.

I also know many liberal-leaning people who dislike Sarah Palin but also hope she runs for President. That says a lot.

While I do not hope that she runs for President, I do not dislike Sarah Palin. But I do wish she would go away.

I welcome your thoughtful and respectful comments.

For Those Who've Inquired...

Blog Post: Thank You @MichaelHyatt for the Reminder

My Review of "Churched" by Matthew Paul Turner (@JesusNeedsNewPR)

Some Friendly Advice...You Did Ask, Right?

• Don't ask how I am unless you really want to know. - A lot of the time, I can "fake it" or give the pat "I'm fine" answer, even when I am not doing so well. Not as likely when times are really tough. So, unless you really want to know, better to avoid the question altogether.
• I don't need to hear God is in control/that God has a plan. - I know this to be true, I really do. Hearing it constantly makes me wonder if you realize I am actually a human being. Human beings have doubts and fears. I know I do, even when I know God is in control.
• I don't need to hear how others have it worse than I do. - Yes, I know many people have it worse than I do. It just doesn't help me to be reminded of that constantly.
• I don't need to hear how bad the job market is. - I've just been told I lost my job. I really do not need to hear how bad the economy/job market is. It's tough enough to remain positive without this kind of "friendly" reminder.
• I don't need your pity. - I know this one's tough. And there is a fine line between sharing my burden and taking pity, but I think most know the difference.
• I don't need you to talk about it around my kids. - My wife and kids are for more important to me than anything else in the world. My kids are having a difficult time already and my goal is to protect them as much as possible. I don't need them to be reminded of it constantly. Just love on them and treat them like normal.

Deja-vu, All Over Again

• I worry about what people will think.
• I worry about those modern day "friends of Job" who'll wonder what I've done to deserve this...what sin there might be.
• I worry people will look at me funny and treat me differently.
• I worry about the awkward interactions with people who don't know what to say.
• I worry about the interactions with people who will lean toward the condescending, pat-on-the-head, it's all in God's plan discourse.
• I worry that my wife and children will be greeted with, "Are you okay?" or "How are you, really?" as if this is the only thing happening in their lives.
• Yes, most of this is pride. 

Tumbling