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.

Heeding an Idea

There comes a time when an urge comes over you to put everything right. And, although this feeling finds different people at different times in their life, the younger one receives it, the better off he or she is. You find yourself with a feeling of this where you need to clean up the house and set sail on a course of keeping everything inline the best you can follow it.

The worst that can happen is your place ends up clean, and you understand what you have in the bank and that the bills are eventually all up to date. The best that can happen is that you may find yourself in a better position. You are more comfortable because you feel more at home in your house, and with better knowledge of what you are spending and where the money is going. Who knows, you may be able to put something away for a rainy day.

None of this is a guarantee, because it depends upon how you see that feeling and what you do with it. No sensing found yet? That is OK. If you look at where and how you live, and it does not suit you, start working on how your house feels and what you can do (while staying on a budget of what you earned.)

The next thing you can do is come up with a schedule to clean your abode and get everything where it should be. Clean the floors and clean the shelves and dust all that which will make you feel better. Do not be afraid to go through the drawers and see what is there and what might be better if removed. Spring cleaning does not need to wait for spring. It can be done at any time of the year, depending on whether you are happy with what you see where you live, or if you want to change things to make it neater and more efficient.

I’m not saying this is for everyone. It is good, though, for those of us who tend to ignore something until it’s later than it should be. And, for those who want to find better ways, I cannot tell you what those better ways are. They are different for each of us. What I can say is those ways are out there and can quickly work out once you set your mind to it.

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

Back in the Office

It’s an eerie day today. Today is the first time I’ve been allowed to return to my offices downtown since the start of stay at home orders. We are in a ‘safer at home’ situation now. I know that my home is secure.

Yet, something drove me; I had to come to the office at least one day during the first week we were allowed to do so. I wanted to make sure all my files were OK, and that other people that I had worked with are all right. I need to see the owners who let me in my office and see what downtown looks like today.

My favorite coffee shops are closed and probably will not open until the middle of the summer. There are not a lot of people downtown. The biggest gathering is contractors, busy repairing the streets. And because they’re working behind barriers and signs, it is easy to avoid them.

Today is far from the hustle and bustle of what our city looks like typically. I am in early, and at my work, I’ve only counted seven people out of the usual complement of more than 50 who were here. I have not even seen the admin people who run the building. We call them the space captains because they are responsible for maintaining the space and making things happen. Everything appears to be running. I know the space captains will be here in a little while.  They placed markings on the floor in some areas for where to stand and where to go.

The fact that I’m here gives me a sense of coming back to normal. Seeing the lack of people and the number of changes that had to happen for the safety, I do not think we are ready to look ‘normal’ in the face for some time.

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

 

Rights

In America, we all have rights.  The constitution offers the rights to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  If you notice, some things never ended up on the list.  The guarantee of happiness is not present, only that you may pursue happiness.  Also missing is your right to walk over another person’s rights.

If I am a store owner, I can refuse the right to serve someone who I felt was threatening my patrons or me.  Threats could include someone who may be intoxicated, pointing a firearm, or potentially threatening my store with a bomb or a possible biological agent that could be deadly.  In this country, one person’s rights do not negate anyone else’s rights.

No one gets to yell ‘FIRE’ in a crowded theater.  You cannot start target practice on Main Street.  You cannot steal a car or kill someone and not end up pursued, and arrested. And, if there is a deadly virus that is threatening your area, and you refuse to follow the rules, you might not get service.  The store owner has a right to deny you service if you do not comply with the protective needs of society.

I Understand the wish to do whatever I wanted.  At the same time, I know the need to do what is right for the greater good of all.  I am not an island unto myself.  I am part of a greater community.  I must balance my rights with the needs of everyone.  If I fail to do so, the entire basis of my freedoms is at risk of failing.  Then, I would have no ‘rights’ to protect me.

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

What Now

What is the most vital day of the week? Monday. Why? No Mondays, no Fridays. I know it’s an old joke. Yet it is one that I use often. Unfortunately, now, for myself and many others, Friday no longer holds the same meaning as it did when we worked five days a week.

As humans, being at home full time starts to mean there is no ending and no beginning for our work week. No going out to dinner. No taking in a show, and no going out dancing. We cannot even go out on a picnic on a Saturday or to church on Sunday. We can’t even pet our neighbor’s dog or cat, for fear of catching the virus.

I know that this is tough for many people on many levels. So, I have a challenge for all who read this. It is time that each of us facing our new destinies to develop new ideas of things to look forward to having. Remember, Friday was not always the favorite day of the week. It did not become favorite until the five-day workweek came to be. Not even 100 years ago. So as our circumstances change, we can inaugurate new traditions.

Friday became important to us because it was the end of the workweek and the beginning of two days of fun. We must figure what is important to us now, and how that will help set our new traditions. After all, if you are going to invent something, invent something you would like.

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

Our Best

We do not find our best efforts when everything goes well. This time is ours to relax and take life easy. We will get some things done. And we will enjoy a little procrastination along the way. We are still good; we just are not our best at this point.

We often find our best selves when we are down and the odds stacked against us. Our best work shows up when we are angry and ready to make positive moves to overcome an insurmountable problem. It happens when we are tired of accepting the status quo, and we will do something to make it better for our comrades and us.

Being ready to fight overwhelming odds does not mean it will be easy.  Bringing everything to bear on a significant problem means you must have done or witnessed actions in the past, which you can draw on. Either that or you must have a great imagination on which you know you can count, and that can give you the right answers.

The more often you are right in what you do, the better others will trust you and follow you. If you are sure of your answer yet do not have a good track record, and no one else has an adequate idea, go for it anyway. After all, even a broken wristwatch is still correct twice a day.

When you can no longer work within the status quo, design, and execute your plan to make a change. Get motivated, and do something positive. You will feel better, and maybe the world will reward you.

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

New Possibilities

They say that some of the best companies are born out of times of economic hardship.  I tend to believe that.  I look at blue chips such as IBM, and others and I can see the results.  And, I know what the reason could be.

When we are in a depression or a major recession, there is a little more time to work the project and get it right.  You need to have a good idea to start.  The extra time allows honing for how the product presents itself and what it can do for the buyer.  It will enable the company to make the concept better before the need skyrockets, and all you can do is fight to keep up.

If the product is right, the demand will be there as the downturn in the market ebbs, and the nation recovers.  There are many reasons.  Some include some old and unhealthy companies that may fall by the wayside, and new commerce will step up to take in the slack.  New companies are more likely to purchase new ways, ideas, and machines to keep up with new demand.

I am not encouraging you to wait for a significant fall in the market to start your enterprise.  I am only showing you what happened in the past.  I am also encouraging you not to let a recession or depression hold you back from giving the world its next big timesaver.

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

Your Past, Your Future

Often, to move forward, we need to start by releasing the past. We never forget the wonderful people who have touched our lives. We do need to settle within ourselves the angst and pain of unsettled disputes. We owe a settlement and forgiveness to those who have gone before us. And, we owe the settlement of accounts to ourselves also.

It is often hard to let go. Emotions cloud our thinking, and some imagined wounds are harder to heal than real ones. We must understand the caring others had for us, and their desire, whether it was ours or not, and the fact that love takes many forms.

As we make peace with our past, our future will begin to blossom. Settling accounts and old debts, and allowing the anguish to subside is the best way to start your new trip. And pains won’t subside overnight, yet in time you may find it replaced by new happiness and new paths forward.

As we move forward, we do not forget the good of the past. Our trip to our future gives us new avenues and new paths to bring new happiness and new caring. As we walk these new roads, we will be able to enjoy great new wonders.

For now, do not rush. Instead, make your amends with the past. Then stay open to what lies ahead. For that is your future and your path to walk.

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

Anomalies

We work hard in life to protect ourselves from the significant problems that we face. And yet, we are plagued day-to-day with the little anomalies that come along. The small things we don’t think of happening, nonetheless they do. We need to know how to handle the daily grind of oops and oh-no, in safe and sane ways.

No matter how much forethought you put into something, it will happen. Precautions or checklists that you make or take? It will happen. It is the little things that will inevitably get in your way. I’m not saying you should not have precautions in place. I am just advising you to realize they are going to show up.

As with anything, how you handle annoyances speaks volumes about you and, in part, judges your higher being. The best thing when an inconvenience comes is to relax. When you relax, you can more easily concentrate. And when you focus, you can look for small, easy solutions. Was the O-F-F switch in the O-N position? Had the Internet button toggled by mistake? What time was the meeting at, and did it Change?

We are only human. We have great brains equipped with faulty storage systems for memory. We have emotions which can give us powerful feeling and yet clog our analytical thinking skills. We have reasonable responsibilities, which leads to significant accomplishments when they don’t crush us in the meantime. And, we are proud to say we are human.

What I’m trying to tell you is a little bit counterintuitive. What I’m trying to say is, when you are lucky enough to find an anomaly, the most important thing you can do is relax. Use correcting a problem as a micro-goal. And as with all goals, when completed, the endorphins will bring you a rush of pleasure in accomplishment.

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

Common Sense

It turns out we all start with common sense.  Unfortunately, we become faced with a world that has forgotten what it can do for us.  Is the fire hot? Do not touch it.  Does someone scare you? Avoid that person.  If someone is kind and loving, seek them out.  When you perceive danger, stay away.  These ideas make sense. Don’t they?

Today, it feels as though many just want what they want.  People do not want to lose out on anything.  And, some folks believe they are entitled to everything.  The term ‘getting too big for the britches’ is sometimes used by onlookers.  I do not think such sayings are required. I do believe that ideas such as ‘self-reliance’ and ‘for the greater good’ are thoughts worth considering.

We never live in this world alone. And, if we did live alone, we would find it hard to have any lifestyle to which we became accustomed. We must remember we are social creatures. Being social is essential to us, even when it is at a social distance or in meetings through the Internet. We cannot deny our true nature, nor can we endanger others while practicing our true calling. We must, therefore, practice positive balance in all things.

Instead of lobbing disparaging remarks, let us practice care and understanding. Instead of finger-pointing, let us exercise a little hand raising in volunteering what we could do for others. Instead of blaming and complaining, let us strive to find good ideas and better ways.

The pandemic came on its timetable, and it will leave the same way. We may be left better or worse, yet the epidemic does not solely make the determination. The determination as to whether we are better or worse is up to us and what we do now. Actually, it boils down to a little common sense. Choose wisely, my friends, choose wisely.

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

A Word of Caution

We saw people this weekend out protesting that they wanted curtailment of home quarantine.  They had their signs, some had their rifles, and they had what they felt was a useful purpose.  I fear that many of them failed to consider why the restrictions were put in place to start.

We are not new to pandemics.  Plagues have been a part of humanity as far back as we can remember and record, and then some.  The Black plagues of Europe, and the epidemics of measles and other illnesses brought by adventurers and forced upon the unprotected Native Americans of the western hemisphere are but a few.  The Spanish Flu of 1918.  We know what horror a pandemic can do.

We have an advantage.  With modern medicine and protocols, we can minimize the risk.  We know how to protect ourselves, and we know how to fight the infestation.  Wash our hands, wear a mask, and ensure that we are not around others that may be infected.

We do have some problems.  Rather than being told we will do X, Y, or Z, everything given to us is suggestions.  Those in charge expect us to be grownups and use our common sense to keep ourselves and our neighbors safe.  Please bear with me as I explain why this weekend’s gatherings in different states allowed for the use of the first and second amendments and failed to show any forethought or common sense.

We are fighting a pandemic of tiny organisms.  Your rifles are not going to help you. The people protesting and close to others are probably the ones ignoring quarantines and have a better chance of being infected.  What did you share at the outing?  And for those in charge, do not be afraid to make decisions for our good.  We know there is a lack of knowledge, and that is OK.  Do the best you can.  No one can fault you if you have to change things as you learn more.

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