Turning 41!

Taking time to reflect….

It takes a great amount of patience to weigh through what is real and what isn’t.  After 41 years on earth, meeting people from all walks of life, developing the greatest friendships a person could imagine, I am so very appreciative. I look at the challenges I face today, the challenges of the past, and have a peace and faith that whatever tomorrow brings, I can handle it with confidence.

I haven’t been writing the past year, bad on me, but working towards something that can have a global effect for good. Sometimes you don’t realize why certain things happen, until one day you wake up and see the puzzle take form. It never happens overnight, so patience is key here. The puzzle, whether spiritually, work related, family, will always be moving and shifting.  Rigidness is not an option. Remain fluid, understand the situation and move through it with confidence and conviction. Getting back to my point….

Be a good person, period.  To everyone you meet!

Yes, in doing this, make decisions that are always in line with what you believe and trust is the right thing. Sometimes these are extremely difficult, but the little voice and intuition inside is never wrong. 41 years has taught me this, search for the best in life – outside of what the media tells us.

Everything we need is inside, we just have to trust it.  So thanks to the first 41, and may the next day, year, decade, and life bring new experiences that fit into my puzzle and bring greatness to the world!

Team work, works best!

If there is any lesson I learned in life thus far is that teamwork works best and doing it together makes enjoying it much more rewarding.  Whether it is climbing a mountain or closing a deal, the real thought process on this is that people tend to find greatness in themselves when surrounded by other great people.

So this video is for my team in Haiti, great people doing great things.

Two Tips on Having a Winning Year in 2011

2011 is here and as I look back at the past 365 days, extract the good from the bad, the challenges, pain, growth, and accomplishments, it always amazes me the constant patterns in my life.  So it is with 2011 that I attempt to not make a change, but develop a more balanced life that reflects those who came before and the activities that led to their success.  I looked at successful people from the past and trends that I could replicate.  Using these few key trends, I am positive that my chances of having a successful year will rise, and rise by taking it one day at a time.

Here are a couple of trends that will make all the difference. 

The first trend is to develop a large library in your home and READ.  Reading will stimulate your mind and creativity.  Did you know that the average CEO reads four books a month and earns 536 times the salary of their average employee?  While the average American employee reads one book a year and 60% don’t make it past the first chapter.  That is alarming and is a huge wake up call!

Charlie Jones once said, “a person will be the same person as they are today years from now with the exception of the books they read and the people they meet.”

So it is my intention in 2011 to read diligently, learn, develop a love for learning, while engaging others in the world to develop long lasting relationships. Remember, ss an old saying states, “readers are leaders.”

Secondly, create a journal and stimulate your conscious by, clearly defining your goals, asking well worded questions, and handling pressing problems.

Looking at 2011, it can get overwhelming by all the facets of life;  family, health, finance, property, taxes, friends, business, work, etc.  So I am going to keep it really simple, with a balanced approach to clearly defining my goals.

1. Create a balanced condition within my everyday life.

2. Read, learn, teach, and impact others through my knowledge and experience.

3. Be present in everything I do and put fear in it’s place by taking risks.

Creating journals within a journal is the route I am choose to take.  In these journals I will ask questions and not worrying about the answers, always having faith that they will come when the time is right.  I spend a good bit of time away from my family, and I want to include them in my everyday life and allow them to see through my eyes what I experience.  So I have three pages dedicated to my children, and one to my wife.  These pages will be the reflection of my thoughts toward each family member on a daily basis, and hopefully leave a legacy for my children.

I see journalling as an opportunity to aid in handling pressing problems that will arise and allowing an outlet to gather my thoughts before responding to issues, thus avoiding direct criticism of the situation or person. I will strive to handle pressing problems by confronting them with the truth, and encouraging others to hang in there and work through their challenges.

I encourage you to “hang in there”, whatever the challenge may be today or tomorrow.  You can do it!

Thanks for reading and have an amazing 2011!

Jamieson Slough

Good to Great …. by Jim Collins

The is an amazing book about how the good companies become great!  Thanks Sung for making me aware!

Important notes from this book:

1. Only have seats for A players. – “tell your people it will be a challenge and demanding.”

2. Who comes before What. Build deep and strong executive teams.

3. Compensation is not a distinguishing variable in moving an organization from good to great.

4. The right people will do the right things and deliver the best results they’re capable of, regardless of the incentive program.

5. Always place greater weight on character attributes than on specific educational background, practical skills, specialized knowledge, or work experience.

6. Only the bet make the annual cut. Consistent exacting standards at all times and at all levels.

7. How to be Rigorous

a. When in doubt, don’t hire – keep looking

b. When you need to make a people change, act.

c. Put your best people on your biggest opportunities, not your biggest problems.

d. Managing problems makes you good, building opportunities is the only way to become great.

e. All debates must be for he common good of the company, not for self interest.

8. Facts are better than dreams

a. Let the brutal facts tell reality.

9. How to build a climate where truth is heard?

a. Lead with questions, not answers. (So, what’s on your mind? Can you tell me about this? Can you help me understand? What should we be worried about?

b. Engage in dialogue and debate , not coercion.

c. Conduct autopsies without blame.

d. Build red-flag mechanisms

“Never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end – which you can never afford to lose – with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.”

10. Simplicity within three circles

a. What are you passionate about?

b. What can you be the best in the world at? More importantly, what you cannot be the best at?

c. That drives your economic engine?

11. “Stop doing lists” are MORE important than “to do” lists.

12. Become pioneers in the application of carefully selected technologies.

13. Use technology as an accelerator of momentum, not a creator of it. Make sure the technology fits with the three circles.

14. Preserve the core values and purpose while your business strategies and operating practices endlessly adapt to a changing world.

15. Realize what you are doing is at best a waste of energy.

16. What work makes you feel compelled to try to create greatness?

These last 16 points ring true to the very core of what takes a good company and makes them great.  it never happens overnight, but with consistent effort, drive, determination, and longing to become great with steady faith that it will indeed happen.  Unwavering principles and core vales within the three circles is a must.

I highly recommend you pick this book up and make it part of your growing library!

Other summaries for this book, http://www.wikisummaries.org/Good_to_Great:_Why_Some_Companies_Make_the_Leap…_and_Others_Don’t

All the best in 2011!

Jamieson Slough

Amazing people!

There comes a time in life where meaning and purpose speak much higher than what is hanging in your closet or in the garage.  The past month has been one of the most eye opening experiences in my life through meeting new and exciting people that are contributing to the world’s problems and issues, seeing the passing of a much loved family member, and attempting to understand why people choose to behave in strange ways.  This blog will be somewhat of a discovery in each of those three segments, keeping a perspective of the greater picture.

It amazes me the faith and conviction of others through rough times.

The third annual chili cookoff

It was that time of year again for the annual chili cookoff at Andorra ct.  I would have to say this was a great time, with great food, music, company, and friends.  Dancing, ping-pong, darts, poker, and lots and lots of chili.

I think it is really important coming together as a community and enjoying a fun night with friends.  Everyone is busy living life and working hard, so why not spend some time enjoying each other’s company and dancing the night away.  Thanks to everyone that helped out!  From fire-wood, drinks, chili, set-up, you name it, friends helped and I appreciate that soooo much.

So here are a couple of pictures, you know a picture says a thousand words!

 

 

 

Rockin at the 9th b-day party

What a bash and great time with Ally on her 9th birthday.  She had 15 kids running around making slime, eating cake, and decorating pumpkins.  Not to mention the music pumping all afternoon and the dancing.  We had an appearance from Dorthy and Toto, a Ninga warrior, proncess, butterfly, young rocker, and sumo wrestler.

It was a great party and special time for Ally as she celebrated #9.  Thanks for everyone who came and all the special gifts she received.