Recipes for Success

I have a friend who likes to believe he will be a success in business. I believe in him. I trust he will succeed. But I do caution him to use a recipe that will help him achieve his goals. The recipe is something like this: 1 tbsp Inspiration 1 tbsp Optimism 5 cups Perspiration 2 tbsp Failure 1 cup Persistence 1 cup Reality Sprinkle with Purpose and bake for as long as you need to succeed. I am my own worst critic. I have a bunch of shortcomings. I m not as organized as I should be. I am not as focused as needed. I like shiny stuff. All combined it makes success difficult, but it also makes it even more rewarding. Despite my obstacles internally, I still find a way to make successes out of my work even when failures appear as well. I believe, and some weird study out of a university says, that success is made up of learning lessons from continually failing. Reality hurts, but it trains us to either evolve or become extinct. In some cases, extinction is good. Look at DDT. At the time, it was the wonder powder that would save farming. Shortly (some 80 years later) there after, it was vilified and was banned for health concerns. Paul Hermann Müller developed this product and won a Nobel Prize for it. Fast forward a few years later, and he's a villain, or at least his product was... The point is that trial and error, even if over long periods of time, pushes us further to continually develop and redevelop our initiatives for the better. While at some point Mr. Müller was a genius, and rightfully so, but his work did not end there. It spawns hundreds of other young scientists to push through his work and carry on with their own. They apply the recipe and hammer out their products so we, as a community, can further challenge ourselves and our ideas as to their merit. As my friend likes to tell me, he "will be" a success. And I agree, as long as he accepts defeat during the process as a drive to further development.

Impact Washington making an Impact

So there is this lovely lady name Kristin Kautz. Kristin is a soft spoken, kind woman who 'works' for Impact Washington. I say 'work' because I do not believe she truly works at what she does, rather, she puts forth enjoyable efforts. Her demeanor, passion, and thoughtfulness are evident from the day you meet her, and while I know it is a traditional working job, she exhibits anything but typical in her outward, smiling appearance. Now, understand, her 'putting forth enjoyable effort' is a term that should be valued by all of us, and we should all be so lucky to share in such a splendid way of carrying on about our day. I do not, however, mean to diminish her work in any way, only to recognize that she is a rare person who throughout her interactions is sincerely happy to be doing what she is doing. How many of us can say that? How many of us say to ourselves everyday that we made a difference somewhere, or for someone? I truly believe she can, and I am proud to have been able to meet her and engage her with LUSB. We will be a better organization because of her, and for that, I am truly grateful... Thanks Kristin! www.impactwashington.org

In 'Cahoots'

Today, on a ride back from Seattle, my business associate used the word 'cahoots.' I kind of giggled. It sounds like a word used by Bugs Bunny or other cartoony character. I thought about the word a lot, and realized that almost all collaborative decisions might be considered 'in cahoots.' So, basically, I am 'in cahoots' with many associates, friends, etc. both in personal life and in work. You probably are, too! So next time, instead of just agreeing with someone, consider yourself 'in cahoots' - sounds a whole lot more suspicious and daring.

A View Of A Hero

I respect our military. In the airport I often thank our service folks for their volunteer duty. I am proud they work for us. They sacrifice a portion of their lives. They become an asset of the government and forego their own interests for a period of time. I applaud them. Now, I must reflect on another hero. Those who are involuntarily assigned a battle they did not wish to partake. A battle that might disable them, strip them of their vanity, and eliminate their drive and will. This fight comes with dangerous injections and sometimes violent repercussions. This fight reigns supreme inside their bodies and wages war in a way that cannot be fathomed by the individual, reasoned by their inner circle, nor clearly identified by the medical community as to an outcome. Cancer brings tanks to a knife fight, and we, as humans, attempt to build warheads to aggressively defend our health. These wars are won and lost routinely, but never in vain. These wars are fought in the battlefields of living rooms, drives to the store, trips to the oncologist, and alone in the darks of the mind of those inflicted. Cancer is a bitch-whore on the second floor making noise in the middle of the night. Something you wish you could get rid of but haven't found the path to do so yet. Cancer remains a constant reminder in my life that life is precious. Live how you wish, and be who you mean to be, for it may be short. Don't settle for what is 'just OK' but rather take life by the horns and ride it through the years. For my friends I know who are in the fight right now, please dig deep and rely on me to assist you when you feel there is nothing more you can do. I will be here for you. I know you are strong and amazing and a power that can overcome. I am sorry you are in this position, but I am confident you are the person that can win. Bless you Matt & Brandie. We are here for you and fighting in spirit every day. You are my heroes.

New Group Calls It Out On The Carpet

A newly formed advocacy group was recently formed in the northwest to support the outdated carpet in the PDX airport. The newly formed PDXCAGUACT (Portland Carpet Advocacy Group United Against Carpet Terrorism) aims to bring awareness to the horrible plight of the seemingly aged Portland airport carpet. Sadly, the carpet has been ripped from it’s home like a refugee in the third world, creating massive hysteria and discomfort for 7 people in the northwest and some news outlets. In an effort to identify why the carpet has become the target of what is being described as the worst case of floor covering terrorism in recent history, we asked some folks at the Port of Portland to describe the hostile action. Johnny Highflier, who identified himself as a Port associate twice removed but still remotely related to the incident, stated “This carpet makes no sense anymore. It is dirty, aging, and hideous to the eye. It has created so much displeasure it has to go.” A spokesman from PDXCAGUACT countered with, “This carpet has a cultural significance that cannot be measured by microns of dirt and bodily fluids under UV. This carpet inspired me to become a dog trainer, and many more are devastated at the treatment it is receiving. Floor coverings just keep getting stepped on, and that’s not fair.” As of today crews are actively replacing the carpet, with get this - more ugly carpet. News of the switch to the new and improved ugly carpet had the PDXCAGUACT in a tizzy, not knowing what to do with it’s campaign as it seems to be losing coverage in news channels it once dominated for one newscast. However turbulent the situation, the new carpet is taking the situation as expected. When asked how it was feeling about replacing it’s predecessor, it had no comment.

As the old carpet is removed we can only speculate that the PDXCAGUACT will be forced to retire the supporting Facebook page and assorted useless merchandise it created for future landfill use. As always, we’ll keep you updated here as to the status of all parties. Oh, and Keep Portland Weird.

Hey All, We're Having A Garage Sale!

Keep an eye out here for news on our garage sale. Soon we will be liquidating tons of fabrics, hardware, webbing, etc. from our Carson warehouse. We will post notes as to when and where this will occur... Stay tuned...

The Passing of Stuart Scott

Today was bittersweet. When we lose someone in the community, in our family, anyone we feel a connection to, we reflect in so many ways and find so many emotions buried under our outward armor. This morning, about 8am, after a fitful night of sleep that saw my eyes open far too often, I awoke to the news online that Stuart Scott had died at the young age of 49.

I remember the first few times I saw Stuart on TV. I am sure I was not endeared to him. I am sure that I was a bit put off by his delivery. After all, I was a middle class seemingly white youth with only hip hop CD's to connect me to the African American community. My connection to his world was ancillary at the most remote of descriptive language. I was surely, no doubt, bewildered that a national cable channel could populate it's airwaves with his brash, and unorthodox, style of presentation of sport.

I was envious. Envious that man had found his calling at a young age and followed through with his dream, carried his passion, and delivered in an honest and dare I say authentic manner that rang true to so many, but perhaps a bit foreign to me. I turned him off at times because it wasn't what I was used to, or comfortable with.

I grew up one day, not entirely, but enough, to realize that I actually appreciated Stuart Scott. I not only appreciated him, but what he represented - Authenticity - Something I wish I could truly say I deliver today. It is so difficult to understand maturity if you are seeking it, rather, it makes itself apparent when the time presents itself. At some point you stop looking at our differences first, and start looking for our similarities instead. So much easier to find why we can descend on common ground than to battle at the differences that in most cases were not by our design. I believe I may have begun to understand our similarities over time, and allowed how dissimilar we were to become unimportant overall.

I cried today thinking of his loss. While I never knew him personally, I felt connected to him for the most unknown reasons. I respect the fact that he did not quit. I respected his professionalism. But mostly, I respect how he represented himself to the world. Well done, Mr. Scott. You leave a legacy behind that endears for the future. Rest in Peace Stuart Scott. I will miss you.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11225895