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.

Two Things to Think About

In the spirit of Throwback Thursday, here is a piece from October of 2015.  I have cleaned it up a little, the sentiment is the same.

You are capable of great things.  And, if you don’t try, you will never know.  Why don’t we spend more time believing in ourselves and what we want to do?  This failure in self-faith is often a conditioned response.  It reminds me of a Christmas movie where everyone told a young child he could not have a B-B gun because he would shoot his eye out.  Where these people being mean, or trying to keep the child from fulfilling his dreams?  No! Those advising him were trying to protect him from misguided tragedy.

How many of us have held off on dreams or not gone on to fulfill our destinies because of the misguiding of well-meaning friends, family, or other sources?  Does this mean they were not concerned about you?  Did they speak out of spite or jealousy? Is there really no danger involved? The answer to all is no. 

Anything worth doing will have a risk involved. To keep us from getting hurt, others who are concerned for us, and even our own thoughts, will point out problems and roadblocks that could be there along the way to our success with the project. The trick is to believe in yourself and your goals enough that you can overcome the warnings of everyone else and to overcome your own fears.

 If you have that much determination, then you are on the right road to solving those problems, removing those roadblocks and actually bringing something new into being in our world. Just remember, nothing is possible until it is done and then everybody wants to do it.

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

Can You Help Yourself?

This is a fair question, and we would like to think that yes, we can take care of ourselves and help ourselves when we get into a pinch. Everyone wants to look as though he or she is in control. And sometimes we are willing to put on false airs to pretend everything is okay.

Pretending everything is okay, though, just doesn’t help as things start to stack up against us. As problems and worries stack up, we end up having tunnel vision and lose sight of the full picture, especially solutions. It’s hard to see anything except for the problems.

This is the best time to have someone else in our corner that we can turn to for help. Working with someone else is often essential because, we see in a nearsighted fashion, often being able to identify problems and not able to tell whether there even real or not. With someone else by our side, they may be able to look a little more far afield, and they are much more likely to be able to see in a 360-degree range. They can help us decipher what the real problems are and even help find ways to overcome them.

This person could be an accountability partner, a mentor, or a life coach. It is better to have someone that we talk to on a recurring basis who knows us. If we only show up and talk to someone when we’ve got a problem and are worried or scared, it is much harder for them to help because they don’t know the whole us.

Even having a life coach and spending $70 once or twice a month to meet and discuss plans for the future is well worth the money. Just by being able to talk to someone else you can often hear what works and what won’t. Discussing concerns and problems has a magical way of reducing stress and worry on us. And by thinking things through, we could probably even save more than what the coach costs just by being able to discuss things in advance and have someone else to help you find solutions.

I have come to learn that having a coach, a mentor, or someone else who work with and be honest with me is an excellent idea.

Thanks for being with me today, I look forward to being with you again tomorrow.

Delays

I have hit a development/production delay in delivering you the book I hoped to giveaway today. After putting things together in beginning data, I realized that I needed to change some wording. By including better explanations and other information, the book will be much better in assisting you to map your future goals.

I ask your understanding and patience while I take a week to make inclusions and corrections. As soon as I have this manuscript corrected, I will get it to you. Please remember I will be giving this to you as an attachment in my blog. You will not have to send me your email nor end up in a funnel somewhere. If you find errors that you believe should be corrected or changed, please let me know. I’ll give you my email, and my phone number.

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

 

 

 

Things to Remember

Now that I am one, I am allowed to say, “Don’t mess with me just because I’m old.” Another joke has to do with being wiser, meaner and over insured. The truth of the matter is the reason we grow old is to share the knowledge and the lessons we have learned. We share our experiences with those younger, in hopes that they will not need the same trials and tribulations which we have encountered. And at the same time, we understand there are some lessons each person must just learn on their own.

I know we get deluged by ideas, thoughts, and rules to live by every day. And yet there are some truths which bear repeating. I would like to share those rules with you, at least some of them. It is essential to keep some things in mind to use as mental tools during your journey.

Rules to the Future:

  • You do not have to say yes to everything. And, you should not say no to everything either. Take a moment to weigh what is being asked of you. Is there a moment in the request where you can see yourself doing something or meeting someone that will help propel you along your path to your desired future? Also, ask yourself, do I have the time and tools to do this task correctly, or is this something where I will be funneled into failure.
  • Always know that middle-management must be given due respect and kindness, yet they are rarely the movers and shakers that make things work. The real movers and shakers are those on the floor doing the work. If an executive is locked in the office all day how can that executive no more than someone who comes in contact with the majority of people within the plant? You may be surprised how much a friendly janitorial staff member or the guy from the mail room actually knows.
  • Never treat somebody differently (either better or worse) because of their job title or station within the company. Treat everyone with kindness and good thoughts. You will find this much more enjoyable, and your work will be better.
  • If you are going to hold anyone to account, you have to start with the person in the mirror. To not act on this with yourself first, and then have a radiating effect on others, will never give you the best outcome.
  • If you work with the betterment of others in mind, you will find yourself being seen more and more in a positive light.
  • Never, ever make or keep an assumption that something will last forever. In our world, there are beginnings and endings to just about everything. To assume the job, the house, family, the car, or anything else will be as it is now forever, could leave you dismayed at some point. Treasure what you have, understand that things do change, and know with a little hope and work they might change for the better.

I hope this helps.

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

Take Care Of Yourself

You have friends, relatives, extended family, those who count on you and those who want you to rely on them. And yet, you only have one self, yourself. The more you use your skills, thoughts, ideas, muscles and other attributes, the more you need to take time to take care of yourself.

For each of us to take care of ourselves for the work that we do is essential. I am not talking about binge-watching the latest season of a TV series while going to seed on the couch, that would actually end up being counterproductive. Just like you plan and do for others, plan and do for yourself. If you’re around people all the time, would you like some alone time for a walk in the park or to go fishing or maybe even to a movie? If you would like to be with friends, would you enjoy going to a party, or to lunch with someone, or on a picnic?

I cannot tell you what would be best for you. We each only know what would be best for us. What I am suggesting is whether it is five minutes to read the quote of the day, 10 minutes to relax with of favorite munchie and a cup of coffee, or something else, if it helps you be more productive, you should get it in. A morning walk in the park, or a planned trip for a few days to go to a city you’ve always wanted to see, takes more time and could be much more therapeutic if needed.  You should plan, and do the things that will help you to relax and enjoy a little life.

Taking care of yourself is part of keeping yourself mentally and physically fit, so you can stay healthy and stay on top of your game.

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

 

Puzzles and Tools

I love to solve puzzles. Wooden puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, escape the room puzzles, sudoku, and crossword puzzles. I like to work on all kinds of problems. It keeps my mind sharper, there is a feeling of euphoria when solving a hard puzzle, and I find insights into some of my other concerns that I might’ve missed otherwise.

Some people hate puzzles, and I understand why. Many times, the person working the problem is looking for an easy solution or something with just a few steps in it. Failing to find an immediate answer, the would-be puzzle solver gives a shrug of the shoulders and says that the puzzle could not be solved. The next time the particular puzzle style comes around, the person merely says, ‘I can never solve those, it just can’t be done.’

When I was younger, I also used to get frustrated and give up puzzles. Then, I learned and started practicing with a couple of rudimentary mental tools which made solving the puzzle much easier. And later I discovered these mental tools have far greater uses. These tools can actually help us in many other areas of our lives.

I learned that solving puzzles and gaining knowledge in business and life had to start with the belief that the problems could be solved.  This is probably the most important of all the tools. Not believing that something is possible results in never putting forth the effort to actually accomplish it. We may give it lip service, yet most efforts are only halfhearted at best.

My next tool is knowledge. If I believe the puzzle can be solved, then I believe that, in most cases, someone somewhere has done this before. If they can do it, then I should be able to do it. I just need to take some time to explore the possibilities.

My third tool is understanding the possibilities. You need to look at all problems based on possible inputs and possible results. Don’t think about the impossible because more and more the impossible, is becoming probable, and might be able to be purchased within the next five years. Remember, the only thing impossible in technology are some of the folks you’ll meet along the way.

So today I give you three tools, belief, knowledge, and understanding the possibilities. Like any tool, these work best when used often and treated with care. There’s nothing worse than going out to the garden to use a tool and having to brush off all the cobwebs and take time to sharpen it before it becomes useful again.

Well, there’s the mean old master sergeant’s thought again. Thanks for being with me, I hope to be with you again tomorrow.

What We Do for Others

Once upon a time, when someone wished to limit interaction with others, there was a wide and vast frontier which they could disappear into. When our nation was younger, those seeking the solitary life could live and hunt and fish and rarely see others. As our nation has grown, we find it harder and harder to find such an alternative viable.

Today it is hard to do anything without having some effect on someone else. This is true whether it was talking to your neighbors, working at a job, or blogging on the Internet. Today, it is difficult to even get to anything left of that frontier without having to stop for either gas or electricity.

The question then is what do I do for others? I try to keep to the rule of doing for others as I would like someone to do for me. There is a lot of good in this, and yet sometimes there is some wrong and it also. Why? Because others aren’t me. And sometimes, what is right for me would be entirely wrong for someone else.

To better interact with all those around us, we should really get to know them. We take time to learn how to use a TV set so we can get the TV to give us the channels we want. If we get a new vehicle, take a drive to understand how it handles. We bond with our pets and talk to our plants (sometimes.)  Why should we do less for the people in our lives?

We don’t start out meaning to be rude or ignorant of others. Quite often this happens when we are trying to do bigger things, and between stress and over-focus on a few wrong things, we forget to be kind to those around us. We are so focused on a goal that we ignore everyone else’s desires and concerns.

As humans, we are not really individuals. We are an amalgam of those around us and all the actions within our lives which affect us. The secret is, the better we treat others, the better we treat ourselves. Want to live long, be happy, feel satisfied? Treat yourself (and those around you) well.

Thank you for reading this today. I hope to be with you again tomorrow.

 

 

 

Keeping My Promise

I launched a course last week. And I promised I would put out the workbook to that course today. That workbook is attached. After looking at it, I realized that I should probably send you another book also to explain everything. I will send that book out next Tuesday. 

If you need this course or want this course and you cannot afford it, I will work to give it to you in one form or another. I do have to tell you that any training is work. You must work to find the time to take the course. You must work to do the research required. You must grab an honest look forward and plan. And you must keep contact and accountability so as questions come up and thoughts appear you have someone you can write to, ask questions, and get reasonable answers. I will do my best to be there for you if needed.

So why am I doing this?

I believe in keeping my promises. A significant vow of mine was to help others do better. I have been a trainer and educator for most of my life. To convince people they could learn and do, I have been something akin to an unofficial coach. I help people to understand that they can do things and they can learn.

Now, I’m a coach and an educator. It is my job to take people who don’t believe they can do something and help them prove to themselves that they can. Anybody can grow, anybody can learn, anybody can earn, as long as they want to and believe that they can. If I had to give one idea to describe myself, I’m the cheerleader and the mean old master sergeant all in one.

I have mentors and teachers the tell me if I don’t charge thousands of dollars for the course no one will think that the course is worth anything. I think I appreciate what they’re trying to do. However, I remember times when I carried a debt load so harsh that I was struggling just to give my family the bare minimums.  I want to ensure the people who could best use my products are able to access them.

During my Masters of Education studies, I was taught that the world will be 14 million teachers short by 2020. Most of those shortages are in places where teachers can either not get to or cannot survive in. To compensate for this, I agree, our best bet in education is long distance learning. It is the easiest way to teach over long distances and is on the Internet which stretches to most places in the world. That is why my work and blogs, books, and courses are on the Internet.

Building courses that people need are easy. Finding those courses is sometimes much more difficult. Even if I don’t charge the thousands of dollars which I am being encouraged to do, some people end up left behind because they legitimately cannot afford the course at any price. I want to close that gap.

Granted, I am new at this, yet I wish to have nobody left behind because of something that I could’ve helped them learn. If you would like this course and are willing to work at it and cannot afford it, write me, and we will look at what we can do together to help you get the training you need.

I do have to tell you that a course like this will take work on your part. It turns out most things worth really having, takes a level of effort. Yet if you really want it, it is almost always doable. If I can help you, please email me at Mikeb@reveille.rocks.

Here is the workbook for you:

Mapping Your Future Free Workbook 102

Please do not forget to download the workbook and check in next Tuesday for the companion book that explains everything.

Thanks for being here and I hope to be with you again tomorrow.

 

Difficult Things Made Easy

Sometimes what looks like the hardest and most difficult things to do, are the things we need to do anyway. If we try to maneuver around them for the sake of ease and timing, they can often blow up in our face. If we just do them to start with, we find things to be much more comfortable, and our life, better lived because of the actions.

Sometimes I get grumpy. I don’t clean the kitchen, I don’t pick up things I’m working with once I’m done with them, and I do not dust. When I get like this, I find myself looking at a dirty, dusty house. The sink is full of dishes, junk is all over the countertops, and books and manuscripts are strewn throughout the house. Wherever I look, there is no peace or place for quiet contemplation. The sight is just a mess. Even the yard is a mess because I didn’t take care of it either.

Even though I tend to forget this lesson every now and then, and I have to go back and do a little relearning. 20 minutes a day in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner leaves both good looks and good smells through the night and well into the next day. An hour, two days a week to cut the lawn and trim some trees gives us a good Vista to sit outside and write an article while enjoying the fresh air. I can spend 10 minutes a day to pick up the house and do some dusting, or I can let it go and spend a full week once a quarter.

I am an ornery student, yet I have learned the hard way, 10 minutes a day is much better than a full week. Not only that, it gives me at least 70 days of better views and better smells.

I don’t write this to talk about what a poor housekeeper I’ve been. I write this to remind myself that taking care of things up front actually saves a lot of time and energy. Looking at this as the process improvement specialist, I believe that there are things we can all do, not just to save ourselves time, money and anguish, also to give us a better daily outlook on life.

If you think you need to, you probably need to.  Is this not true in most of our life’s endeavors?

Just one mean old Master Sergeant’s thoughts.

Thank you for spending some time with a mean old Master Sergeant. I hope to be with you again tomorrow.

Something Better

It is said, what we sow is what we will reap. This means that what we do in life may be visited back on ourselves. If we are kind to others, we will find kindness. If we shun others, we may be avoided. If we harm, we only hurt ourselves.

Whether or not someone else is kind, or mean to us, is not what matters. That someone is mean, angry or hurtful does not play into what we need to do, or give us leeway in our response. The responses we offer and how we do that is what we are responsible for.

We often forget this. Even in trying to do the right thing, to do good and help others, we are apt to go awry by moving towards the final goal and not thinking about what we are doing along the way. These errors become even worse when we tried to do what is right for our group at the expense of all others. When this happens nobody really wins.

The sad part is that until we realize we are caught up in these negative emotions and take measures to break the repetitive cycle of greed and emotional errors, it will be hard to advance as a culture. With all that we have learned about ourselves, our world and our technology, until we raise our awareness of how we should treat each other, we are still stuck in yesterday’s thinking.

Please do not take my word for this. Look around and see what’s going on in the world. You see it in the neighborhoods. You see it in mass media. And if you take time to talk with individuals, and you should, you will probably notice it there.

Does this mean that we’re doomed to a repetitive cycle that cannot be broken? No, at least I don’t believe so. We can break the cycle and go on to do better. We only need to desire and work towards something better.

Thank you for reading my blogs this week. I hope to be with you again soon.