That statement will most likely draw four different responses from those that are lucky enough to receive this wonderful Friday afternoon life lesson of wesophosy.
1) Yum, I knew it was Friday afternoon. I need to get the flask out from desk drawer and get my drink on.
2) Wes I thought this was a business web site where I could enjoy a different perspective from your outstanding moral graces. Hang on a second it is coming!
3) What is Patron?
4) Yeah..the white boy listens to a bit of T.I. He got game! T.I. is a popular rapper for those that are still lost here.
OK so let me dissect each one of these answers a bit and I promise you will come out with some kind of different perspective on life…and that is what we are all about here, eh?
If you are looking forward to drinking that bad this early with such a harsh drink perhaps you should think about switching your job. I know it is a tough time in this economy but you can always start looking. I ask that you just be careful how much you make it known. Odds are if you have a flask in the drawer someone probably already knows ☺.
Second, It is way ok if you don’t know what it is. You will stay out of trouble that way.
Lastly (is that even a word!), T.I. is number 22 on the periodic table standing for Titanium. No that is not where I am going with this, but I would encourage you to use that as some kind of trivia on someone that you feel like being smarter than today and laughing at when they have no idea. Just change the subject immediately after in case they ask what number any of the other elements are. If they do then quickly log on and go to http://www.webelements.com.
Ok…so back to the point. I want to challenge everyone to be a little different this week. I want you to cross some kind of divide and create some kind of new market for yourself. The more you challenge and change yourself the more opportunity that awaits you. Let’s literally create a funnel today that will pay you some way in the next week. I promise if you do this your life will be enriched in some form. Remember though no application of principles means no growth.
If you are an older man or woman your challenge is to cross the divide and seek out and become friends with a younger person of a different ethnicity than your own this week.
The younger generation is what you were at some point. It is amazing to realize that if you actually take the time to make them feel wanted you will find some form of commonality even with what might seem to be such huge gaps in difference (most of it is really just perception). Most generational gaps, especially when you throw ethnicity into it, are really not as different as we think they are. They are gaps because of time. You can fill that gap by making a bond between the two of you and accepting that you really are not that different. In this process there is so much to learn from each other that it is unbelievable. The problem here is that both sides are truthfully petrified of each other. The younger is just as scared of the older and vice versa. Go on..take a chance. You will be fine.
All of you younger guys and gals your challenge is just the same. Find someone that is older than you and of a different ethnicity. Make a friend and be a sponge.
I am not trying to be mister Kumbaya here. I am trying to help you earn a bit of business (the other stuff is just a bonus☺). And I promise if you approach it in the proper way with the right mind set you can literally create a whole new market for yourself.
Example: If you produce music and you are young and hip —- find an older gent or lady and find out what they boogied too. Ask why they loved it so much and listen. Listen to what they stood for. Music always has meaning and the odds are that the meaning is pretty similar to why you listen to what you listen to. I am telling you what…go on to your Mac book pro and add T.I. and Rihanna’s mix with some of the beats from the bunny hop and you will blow the charts off the wall. After all a whole generation was not that off! The two minds together create a power that you may not have on your own. Why not give it a shot?
Example: If you are in sales: Approach the opposite person we spoke of above and just listen to them. Learn a bit about them. They can tell you with stories how you can approach their whole part of the market. You can literally double or triple your potential clientele by learning the intricacies of a different portion of the population.
I told you I would never ask you to do something that I have not done myself. My success has been in a large part because I was willing to cross that divide and learn from different races and cultures. I guess momma taught me right….and there is no guilt and or wrong doing to learn how to do business because of that within a particular sect. So go for it. What do you have to lose. Make a new friend this week. Yes, seek them out they will not come to you. Action, Action, Action!
Send me your success story and I will mention it in the blog next week for sure. Remember you are just one person or idea away from being the next Bill Gates. Making a new friend who is different from you may be the one piece of the equation that you are looking for.
I am not saying you should all listen to Titanium wrap (get it ☺), but I am saying don’t be afraid of him. He may just be telling you what you need to close the next Wall Street executive or land the next big proposal from a mega corporate conglomerate that puts you on the Forbe’s list.
I look forward to hearing a few stories in the coming week. Remember it does not have to be monetary…you may just make your new best friend in the world and that holds more value than any dollar ever will.
Blogger of the week: Check my pal out at www.randygage.com. He is in your face and wild but has an incredible perspective that is always based in critical thought. His blog is fantastic. Check it out.
What made me laugh uncontrollably this week: The LL Cool J old spice commercial (the way the old ll screams in the commercial kills me). Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrSNzSkvi70
What made me cry: My pal Brad waking me up at 3:30 am to see my new puppy being born. I am not sure what part made me cry (3:30am or the puppy).
What made me excited: Launching this site and the hope of truly helping someone have a better week! Thanks for all of the support. Tommy you rock!
Song of the week: Switch Foot – “Meant to Live”
What confused me: Ball State Foot ball turning down a bowl game against another undefeated team which would have given them more recognition than there school has ever had regardless of outcome: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=jn-ballst120408&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Helpful Nugget of the week: After eating Tuna Fish make sure to rinse your mouth out before brushing your teeth. Much more effective.
Things I know: That I could be a model for wrangler jeans (ha..made ya laugh!).
Thanks for reading gang!
To your Success
Young Guns always wanted
Wesley Anderson