Author: Mike Balof

A retired Air Force Master Sergeant, Mike used to lay in bed at night and worry about what would happen if his plant closed or found himself without a job. One day his plant closed. Rather than panic and hysteria (OK, maybe a little) Mike found himself carried away on the adventure of his life. Mike started with the best job he ever had working at Home Depot. He spent 8 years working with job seekers at a local workforce center, helping them to find employment. He then started his own company developing courses, writing books and urging others to follow their own paths into the future. Mike holds a Master of Arts in Adult Education and Training and a Bachelor of Business Management, earned through the University of Phoenix and an AAS degree in Electronics Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force. Mike is a member of the Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society.

Warning: Use Wisely

We each have freedom. We can enjoy as much freedom as we give ourselves permission to use. The question is not really who may take that freedom away, instead the real issue is how much of the available freedom do we allow ourselves to use?

If we do not allow ourselves to use what we have, it will wither and go away. Any freedom that is given and yet not used out of some fear or doubt is not genuinely free. Just remember, there is a difference between concern and responsibility.

Our freedoms do not extend to hurting others. Yelling fire in a crowded theater that causes a stampede and hurts others is wrong. No one has the right to take a life for fun or profit. And no one should purposely plan to do ill will to others.

The freedoms we enjoy are those freedoms that were earned and handed down by our forefathers to promote the common good. They also gave us a set of laws, commonly agree to, and lived by which uphold those freedoms. Most of these laws are still used and respected today.

Our freedoms stem from a group of colonies agreeing to work together and signing up to throw off the yoke of tyranny. And, banding together for the common good and inalienable rights of all. We need to remember this as we go forward. We need to enjoy our freedoms and protect them from those who abuse them. Because the surest way to lose anything is to abuse it.

Just something to think about from the mean old Master Sergeant.

Thanks for being with me today, I hope to be with you again soon.

It Happened Again Last Night

It happened again last night. Reporting has gone on since early this morning and unfortunately, another day is framed. The pundits and prognosticators will be gathering in pronouncing their beliefs once again. And once again no one will get to the core of the problem.

If there were no guns, there would be bombs. Without bombs, there would be knives, sticks, and stones. Everybody will focus on the methods both pro and con and once again the core of the problem will be ignored.

We dare not look at the core itself, for it bears too much angst and shame. There is a pain in the mind that cuts the soul, and once again it replays the same. Limiting the methods only limits the count the ending is still the same. We can point the fingers and call others out, yet in the end, we are all to blame.

It’s bigger than all of us you see. And it hurts, and it’s random, and it’s you, and it’s me. We did not invent this we are not that smart. It was handed down to us from the very start. When brother kills brother, the idea is unleashed, and it stays forever, down to you and to me.

You’ve heard me talk about this before. To fix this, you have to agree, what we really have to fix is you and me. The fix is not external, and it’s not easy to find. To fix the problem we each have to look inside.

If we fix the problem that makes people want to kill, we fix the problem.  Everything else is a band-aid

We Held an Election

We held an election yesterday. I think most people were glad, and many participated in the election. Many more voted than in the same type of elections held in past years. Some people liked voting for their candidates or weighing-in on new tax proposals. I am sure that many more were happy to see the end of the political ads and robocalls.

One of the things that I enjoyed about the election was that there was no blue wave or red take over. Everybody got to vote, and there were winners and losers on each side. Some power shifts, yet proof that democracy stands. This means that as we move forward, America has to do the one thing it has done better longer than any other country on earth. We have to communicate, collaborate, and work together towards common goals to move our country forward.

Sometimes you hear gripes and grumbles about elections and how they have a tendency to interrupt our lives. And yet they are the most important thing we have. So to help the legislators, the judiciary and the executive branch, I would like to give them a response we used in the military when someone complained to us.

When somebody comes up, and complains to you about your chosen profession and why ‘this’ has to happen, and ’that’ has to be, all you have to do is smile and ask them a few questions. And, the discussion will probably go something like this.

Questioner: Why blah blah blah blah I hate it.

You:  I certainly understand and respect your concerns. Have you gone to the market lately and bought cereal?

Questioner: Yes

You: Was there only one type of cereal and they were almost out of it, or a whole aisle with various brands of cereals for you to choose from?

Questioner: Most of an Aisle, Lots of brands to choose from.

You: And, the last time you voted did your block leader come down and walk you to the polls and make sure you voted for whoever they told you to vote for?

Questioner: no

You: You’re welcome

We wish luck and good fortune to all those who have been voted into office.

Thank you for being with me today, I hope to be with you again tomorrow.

Whatever You Do in Life, Own It

We often make excuses for why we have not done something. Rather than owning a policy, we blame the company. Rather than having our office or home the way we want it, we point to all the things we have to do and say there is not enough time. We’ll get to it as soon as the game is done, the show is over, or the weather gets better. We need to own what we do.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a student in school, domestic engineer, or work for a company, or yourself, whatever you do you own. This is true whether you want to possess it or not. Whatever you have and whatever you do reflects directly back to you. Everything from the aesthetics to the dots on the I’s and crosses on the T’s belong to you. Own it.

It is easy to blame others and point fingers. The problem is you cannot correct others unless they really want to be changed. The only person you can directly affect is yourself. So, is there an avenue for a change? Yes, you can own it.

It is pretty straightforward to make changes for the better. Understand what you can change, what is beyond your control to change and how you can best go about changing a particular problem. Most changes start with a smile on the face. Smiles don’t cost anything, and quite often they make people wonder what you’re up to. Attitude frequently does more to raise everyone’s spirits than anything else you can think to do.

The next thing is to be genuine and to care. If you really don’t care, why are you there? Were you standing there waiting for a bus and everything popped up around you? Did you need money and end up in a job found to be insufferable? Did you chase a dream that turned into a nightmare? Only you know the answers. And only you can make it better.

Before you tell me I’m right and head off to HR to quit the job, I have to give you a warning. Moving jobs is trying to change something from the outside and rarely works. If you move to a different position, you may end up in the same rut a year or two from now. To actually fix the problem you need to work from the inside out. From the inside of yourself, your thoughts and ideas, out to the office, the home, the customers, or whatever else you see that can be done better.

I believe you will find that working from the inside out has a more significant impact and is easier than you think.   Just own it.

Thanks for being with me today I hope to be with you again tomorrow.

 

Being Unpredictable

Being there, and consistency is fundamental to your growth. When people count on you, it is a good feeling. And yet, a little unpredictability is always a good thing. Unpredictability allows you to be you.

If you are too predictable, people start to feel that they know you. When they start to become complacent in knowing you, some may think they own you. Others begin to believe that they know your strengths and limitations. They feel they know what buttons to push, and what the results will be every time.

It’s nice to feel counted upon. It’s a little bit harder when others think they push one of your buttons and you will perform on cue. This is why I believe a little unpredictability is a good thing.

Many people think of unpredictability as the inability to be counted upon. Will or won’t the person show up? Will the report get done on time? Can the group rely on this person? This is one view of unpredictability. Unfortunately, it is two-dimensional in his thinking. There are more avenues to this, and much better ideas involved.

The next time that you have a task given to you by someone who thinks they know you, ignite your mental prowess and blow past their expectations. Just dazzle them with work far above their highest aspirations. And leave them wondering, “Wow, where did that come from?”

You won’t only impress others, you will impress yourself. I always find something special when I impress myself.

Thank you for being with me today, I hope to be with you again tomorrow.

Whose Data Is It

We all like to read, and that’s a good thing. I know that we quite often read favorite authors, people who agree with our ideas and thoughts. And, we will talk with our friends and other people, using quotes, ideas, or data offered by the people we read.  Just as there is good and bad in everything, we have to be careful of the quotes and data that we use.

Facts, data, and ideas are almost never the whole story. You need to dig a layer or two deeper to find out the real information. Who ran the studies, and who paid for the research. This information is vital.

If someone gives you information in an article about the number of automobile accidents on the rise, it is good to take that second look. And, this is an excellent topic for our talk today. The data for the article could have been neutral data with just the facts from the department of transportation. On the other hand, data may have come from a pro-marijuana lobby blaming cell phone use so that people driving impaired from marijuana did not hurt their business. At the same time, it could be from the cell phone lobby pointing fingers at the distillery industry to deflect people from the idea it was due to not paying attention. The same could be true if the distillery industry were pointing the facts against the marijuana industry.

This is just a hypothetical example of what could happen. I know this sounds a little strange and long-winded. However, it is essential to understand what is real and what is a disguised agenda.

Before getting wound up or going off the deep end over an article showing data, take a second to do some fact checking. Especially if you are doing reports of your own or trying to help others to find or gauge what is of importance for some reason, take a moment. Just check where the data came from, and who sponsored it. It will give you a better grasp of the information and in turn more loyal readership.

Thank you for being with me today. I hope to be with you again soon.

Are You Looking in the Right Direction?

Thank you for being with us for another throwback Thursday.  This was originally published on February 6, 2017

We are often in search of something. Moreover, there are various types of people out there who are willing to lead us on that search in exchange, in exchange for something they want. They may want money or attention, or understanding or to believe they are doing good or fulfilling some purpose. They do want something.

The question is, do those offering you guidance understand what you are looking for and can they really provide what your needs require?

I find it interesting that our eyes set at the front of our body on the high ground and focus outwards. Unless you look in the mirror, you do not see an image of yourself, and it is hard to see what goes on behind the eyes. If you have to look around behind yourself, again you will need more mirrors with images.

The question I have today is, ‘Are you looking in the right place?’ Or, are you running all over the place looking here and looking there for answers? Do you seek things in many places, yet, never seem to be able to find them? Do the claims of others somehow generally leave you short of where you want to be, feeling somehow less, and somehow again without.

There is another place you can look. The location is one of the hardest to recognize, and yet one of the easiest to get at. You need to look within yourself.

Is there anybody who knows you better than you do? Who knows what you want? You do. Who knows what you like and don’t like? You do. Who knows how far you are willing to go to get something done, and done the way you want it done? Oh yeah, that is you. Okay?

Reach out to the world to collaborate, to communicate, to solve technical issues, and to learn new ideas. Never let others tell you who you should be or what you are and are not.  You are on track to being the best person you possibly can.  Just listen to that person in the mirror.

Would you like to discuss the idea of internal growth?  Please leave a comment. And, You can always reach me at mikeb@reveille.rocks.

 

We Don’t Always Know the Why’s

We don’t always know why things happen. Yesterday it was 75° here. And by this evening we will be enjoying the snow. With 2 – 5 inches due by tomorrow.  Most people here don’t understand why the weather changes so fast. The only thing we can say is, “Welcome to the wonderful world of Colorado weather.” This may be an extreme example, yet the idea behind it is real for more than just Colorado. We see this throughout our lives. We see things happen both good and evil, and can only ask ‘Why?’

We try to attach meaning to events to make them more understandable.  And yet, why a plane ends up in the sea, or a car crashes or anything else happens, is often beyond our understanding.  Many times, I see things, and I can only ask why because I don’t know.  Why did this or that happen? Why?

I do not want to blame everything on random chance.  I also do not want to blame all tragedies on pre-ordained fate.  As a process engineer who believes in continuous improvement, I know that as we understand more, safety and health improve.  And, in this, there is some understanding.  Because someone a long time ago stood next to some shiny leaves and got a rash, we now know to stay away from poison ivy.  Someone had to make the error so the rest of us could learn.

The next time something happens, we could blame it on fate.  We can blame the pre-ordination of man, or we can empathize with the who and what, and learn something that could help us, and everyone else.

It is hard to say why things happen.  I know I do not understand a lot in the larger scheme of things. I do know that time, life, and knowledge are essential.  I feel I need to pay more attention.

Thanks for being with me today.  I hope to be with you again tomorrow.

Balancing Our View

Art and life are a lot alike.  Each will take you wherever you would want to go, all you have to do is add some imagination. I work in watercolors and in aqua oils. Although I’ve done 2 years at the local community college studying watercolor, much of my work in oils stems from Bob Ross and other PBS art shows.

In part, you need to balance your darks in your lights. If you have the painting with all light colors, it doesn’t mean anything because there’s nothing to contrast them against. And if you make everything dark, it means very little for the exact same reasons. And so, you need the dark hues, and the light ones so that each can accentuate the other.

Life is much the same. If you are winning the lottery every week, and always flying from one vacation to another, and everything is permanently just perfect, how do you know how you are doing? If your life is forever dark, with no saving grace, no belief in a future, and no dreams and everything is continually just sad, the same question applies. How do you know how you’re doing?

We have to live life knowing it is not always going to be super bright and smooth all of the time, and it should not be dark and discouraging all of the time. We have to find our balance. In the kaleidoscope of our life, things will drift in and out of focus and in and out of frame. In the revolutions of our hues, there will always be good moments filled with brightness and happiness. And there will be the dark times of sorrow and loss.

We do not wish to dwell on only one or the other, for both are important, and both have meaning. Each accentuates the other. And each, in its own way, makes the other an enhanced experience. It allows us to stay grounded and understand everything in life is there to be lived and respected for what it is.

There is brightness, and darkness in everything. It is up to each person to determine how it is to be viewed. I say that because in truth, just like everything else in this world, what is often seen is up to our own interpretation. That’s true.

Thank you for being with me today, I hope to be with you again tomorrow.

May I Ask A Question?

Today I would like to ask you a question, and I hope that you take a few minutes to respond to it. I have to assure you that this is not a question that’s going to lead to me trying to sell you something. I am not setting you up for a future email funnel or phone calls. And we can do this, so you don’t even have to give me your email address. I’m just doing a little pure research.

The question is elementary and twofold. If you like your planner and personal appointment system, what do you like about it? The second question is along the same lines. If you don’t care for your planner and appointment system, why?

I talk with people who love their systems, and I spoke with people who hate their systems. Sometimes, both sides can be given to me by the same person. There are a lot of planning and appointment systems on the market, and most of them will have something we like, and many of them will not cover aspect that we wish they did. Many times, we end up picking and choosing and end up with something that is much less than we would really like. This is because we cannot find a system that has everything we desire, or the system we desire costs more than we are able, or willing, to spend.

I find myself in that quandary also. For me to understand this better and maybe discover what I’m looking for, I need to talk to my friends and mentors (You.) If you would, please send back a comment and tell me what you think about the systems you use, and what you find good and/or bad about them.

I thank you very much for your help in considering and answering this. And, as one friend and mentor to another, if there is anything I could do to help you, please let me know. I am always willing to help.

Thank you for considering and doing this for me.

Thank you for being with me today, and I hope to be with you again soon.