none are immune

I wrote this in a twitter post this week.....

"I see people who react in a tough situation & hope for the end....whatever it is. I believe instead we are created to find solutions!"

This seems to be a theme lately as I interact with some people (at least in our industry) they are resigned to "the end" whatever it is.  The "He who dies slowest wins" mentality.   The race to the bottom seems to be one of how much can we slow down not crashing.   I have news for us; there is and will be failure...none are immune.  I know I hear you, "ouch Chris, that is painful".  YES it is painful, and I HATE failure and probably like you do everything I can to avoid it. I want to and plan on winning and will be incredibly competitive to get there but failure will happen on some level.  It may be really small or it may be really BIG.  So, an important question is how are we going to handle it?

I read this quote this week in a book review and found it compelling because of the "solution" thought:

"No one talks of failure as anything but shameful; this is wrongheaded and foolish . . . Mistakes are synonymous with learning. Failing is unavoidable. Making is a process, not an end. It is true that deep experience helps avoid problems, but mainly it gives you mental tools with which to solve inevitable problems when they come up."  -Tom Jennings, as quoted in Mark Frauenfelder's excellent new book, Made by Hand: Searching for Meaning in a Throwaway World

This is my point:  

WE WERE CREATED FOR SOLUTIONS! 

Some of those solutions will come from successes but some of them will come from failures.  Both will happen but if you give up or resign yourself to "ride out the wave" to the end you are doomed for defeat or at least to a life of mediocrity.  You can be the person in safety who envies others in their success or gloats in others failures and not have either for yourself or you can live life and be all you were created to be!

I leave you with a quote from Theodore Roosevelt on the subject!

“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” - Theodore Roosevelt

Go ahead....change the world....Succeed, Fail, and find Solutions!

The possibility of exponential IMPACT

I was inspired this week by the life of Josiah Wedgwood who is considered by many one of the most influential figures in the history of Western civilization ceramics and was a successful and renowned innovator, scientist and businessman. He is actually known as the "Father of English Pottery".
 
One of his most notable contributions was as a supporter of the 18th century Anti-Slavery Committee.  He designed a cameo medallion depicting a slave kneeling in chains surrounded by the inscription, “Am I not a man and a brother?”  Benjamin Franklin said of Wedgwood’s tokens, “They may have an effect equal to that of the best written pamphlet.”  Although thousands were freely given to anyone who shared Josiah’s sentiments on slavery, thousands more were manufactured and sold.  Wedgwood showed that one could promote social change while building a business.

Josiah Wedgwood was a craftsmen...excellent at what he did and worked for Royalty.  But he did an amazing thing, he took his talent and combined it with something he was passionate about and helped influence and change his culture.

It reminded me of this quote from Seth Godin:

It's more important that you be passionate about what you do all day than it is to be passionate about the product that is being sold.

If you are passionate and work with excellence toward your goals the products produced will be the right ones.  Does it mean there will always be success from the world's viewpoint?  No but the chances of developing something that has impact and success just like Josiah Wedgwood increases exponentially!

17 DAYS

For seventeen days, the thirty-three-year-old secluded himself in a rented room in Philadelphia.

On a small, portable desk, he began writing, laying the foundations of the new government.  Unlike every nation before it, this country's heart would not beat with the blood of royal lines.  This would be a nation of ideals.

It took Thomas Jefferson seventeen days to find the right words.  Seventeen days of writing and rewriting before he presented his document to John Adams and Benjamin Franklin.....The Declaration of Independence!

-Excerpt from heroes for my son by Brad Meltzer
www.heroesformyson.com/the-book/

This story about Thomas Jefferson has been told in many ways but Brad Meltzer's version struck me because of the first sentence.... 

"For seventeen days, the thirty-three-year-old secluded himself in a rented room in Philadelphia".

A model for success in one sentence:

1. Perseverance - in our "instant" gratification world are we willing to spend dedicated time to succeed?  When was the last time you spent 17 solid days on something you want to see succeed? (17 is not a magic number your number will vary.)

2.  33 years old - Think you are too old or too young? no matter what culture or your voices in your head tell you....You CAN succeed! Age is not a factor!

3.  A rented room - don't let resources stand in your way....just because you don't have _______ (you fill in the blank) don't let it stand in your way in finding a solution.

and the last lesson is a Jefferson quote:

He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors.

4.  Knowledge - don't use the "I am not smart enough" excuse but on the other hand because you have done something the same way don't let the knowledge you have stand in the way of finding a "new" way to do something!

and finally.....need wisdom?  Go to the source and ask:

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 (NIV)

A Flood of Compassion

“Are you upset little friend? Have you been lying awake worrying? Well, don't worry...I'm here. The flood waters will recede, the famine will end, the sun will shine tomorrow, and I will always be here to take care of you. -Charlie Brown to Snoopy”

It has has been an incredibly difficult week here in Nashville because of storms and flooding.  There is not an area of the city or its suburbs that has not been affected. There are many people who have literally lost everything.

My family and I love being in this city, it has so much to offer and most of all it is full of wonderfully giving people.  Something that stood out to me as we have been watching the news is, there have been no reports of violence, looting, or riots (not saying there might not be some but it is definitely not rampant).  The local emergency teams have been remarkable and neighbors are helping neighbors and churches are doing what they are created to do....extending the helping and healing hand of Jesus.

In the midst of the sadness and the tough days ahead there is something else that stands out about this city.....creativity.  Some cities have their "captains of industry", technology gurus, and "masters of science" (we have a few of those here too) but in Nashville you can bet that if nothing else, we can write a song about it!!

I don't know Seth Jones but if I ever get to meet him, I am going to thank him for making a lot of people smile by writing a song in a very stressful time. Please pray for all of the families who have been struck by this tragedy, there are no words that can express the sadness and hardship. If you would like to give or help click here www.middletennredcross.org.  

Now here is Seth Jones song that will hopefully brighten and bring a little cheer in a very tough time: