In my last article I wrote about how the Baby Boomer generation as well as countless others are determining that there is alot more to accomplish in their lives. Places to go, people to meet, goals to achieve, passions to embrace.
Growing up in the Creek household included reminders from my parents that there were no acceptable reasons for not working. My dad was quick to point out to me that he could turn to the want ads any day of the week and find available jobs. I may not 'like' the job but it would do until I found something more to my liking.
So there wasn't much discussion, if any, about pursuing my passion, dreams or goals. Even my high school counselor when I became a senior had one session with me about "my future". After all I was getting ready to graduate and I needed my life mapped out before I left the hallowed halls of Webster City high school.
"So" he said, "what do you think you'll want to do with your future?" How should I know? I was 17 at the time! Now many years later I've seen a myriad occupations and pursuits I would have enjoyed learning and incorporating in my life. Who had ever heard about being a Crime Scene Investigator? Not me but to be honest it I wished I had known there was such a profession back in those formative years.. I would have liked being a forest ranger. I mean really...drive around in a jeep in beautiful mountains, the wildlife, and out in the open country! Sign me up! And being a college basketball coach would have been right up my alley.
For you it may be an occupation, a trade, or a skill you'd like to pursue. It could be a country to visit, book to write, business to start that has always been a passion you'd like to achieve. But for one reason or another, or even upon the "advice" of a loved ones, you never took that next step. I mean those you respected would have said how silly you were being.
So why not start your journey today? Why wait any longer? Making the effort to embracing your life's passion is closer than you may believe.
Here are some initial steps you can take in 'jumping off the end of the dock' and start to swim:
1. TAKE ACTION Avoid being paralyzed and overwhelmed by the challenge. Author Joe Vitale writes, "Do anything to keep the momentum going forward."
2. JUST TAKE THE NEXT STEP You don't have to "see" your destination to reach it. Vitale says, "It's like driving your car at night when there's no street lights. Your headlights may allow you to see only the next 100 feet in front of you. And then finally, you make it to your destination."
3. IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE RESULTS, CHANGE WHAT YOU'RE DOING Jim Rohn, personal development expert suggest asking yourself, "What can I do today so the next five years are not the same as the last five?"
4. EVALUATE HOW YOU ARE SPENDING YOUR TIME Rohn asks, "Do you focus on the majors? Spend major time on major things and minor time on minor things."
5. MAKE SURE YOUR HEART IS IN IT You have to find something you love enough to be able to take risks, jump over the hurdles, and break through brick walls that are always going to be placed in front of you.
6. PUSH YOURSELF TO REACH YOUR POTENTIAL! Passions, dreams and goals worth pursuing in your life will demand that you give 100% effort.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
"Who Said We Were Finished?"
Have you seen the latest AARP commerical? The AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) commerical? Retired...ha! This isn't your parents or grandparents AARP!
The AARP is one of the most dominant organizations in the United States serving the retired population. They are bringing to light that largest, most influential, and wealthiest generation, the baby boomers, really don't plan on retiring. They are just going to shift to other dreams, goals, or to discover their passions in life. I heard a gentleman say the other day that he would know he was retired "about three days before I die."
For many of us we were raised by parents of the Greatest Generation, made more famous by the efforts of former NBC newscaster Tom Brokaw with his book and TV specials. The parents of the Greatest Generation taught their children who would become baby boomers to "get a job so you can pay your bills and buy food." My grandfather always talked about the day when he could retire...and then...well he'd be retired.
Now there is a generation of over 77 million baby boomers who don't see life in the same light. They still have dreams to live, goals to accomplish, passions to discover. Don't even bring up the "R" word. In the AARP commerical, a lady decorating a cake even says, "I want to fall in love again." Check their website...the opening page is a middle-aged couple in a romantic kiss. My grandfather would have a fit! THAT is NOT retirement.
I have the feeling that many of us who claim the title of baby boomer would rather go out with a bang and not just a whimper no matter how old we get. After all, baby boomers who lived through the 1960's shook up the whole world. Who chanted "the whole world is watching" in 1968? The baby boomers! Who burned their bras? Baby boomers! Burned draft cards? Baby boomers. Fought for equal rights? Baby boomers! Protested an ugly war? Baby boomers! Were the first to talk about the environment? You got it.
It's evident that there is a new "R" word for this generation and its not 'retire'. The new 'R' stands for "reinvent". People in their 50's, 60's, 70's and beyond want another journey to experience. They want to discover and return to their roots of the 1960's. The Baby Boomer generation always enjoyed hearing "you can't do that...you can't say that...you can't go there."
Well we're still here and we have some unleft business to attend to. For card carrying members of this generation of dreamers, its still our time. Time to discover our passions and live them to the fullest.
In coming blogs I'll be addressing the "how" of making those discoveries. I'll be offering advice, tips, and plans that everyone can use to guide them on their path to fulfillment.
The AARP is one of the most dominant organizations in the United States serving the retired population. They are bringing to light that largest, most influential, and wealthiest generation, the baby boomers, really don't plan on retiring. They are just going to shift to other dreams, goals, or to discover their passions in life. I heard a gentleman say the other day that he would know he was retired "about three days before I die."
For many of us we were raised by parents of the Greatest Generation, made more famous by the efforts of former NBC newscaster Tom Brokaw with his book and TV specials. The parents of the Greatest Generation taught their children who would become baby boomers to "get a job so you can pay your bills and buy food." My grandfather always talked about the day when he could retire...and then...well he'd be retired.
Now there is a generation of over 77 million baby boomers who don't see life in the same light. They still have dreams to live, goals to accomplish, passions to discover. Don't even bring up the "R" word. In the AARP commerical, a lady decorating a cake even says, "I want to fall in love again." Check their website...the opening page is a middle-aged couple in a romantic kiss. My grandfather would have a fit! THAT is NOT retirement.
I have the feeling that many of us who claim the title of baby boomer would rather go out with a bang and not just a whimper no matter how old we get. After all, baby boomers who lived through the 1960's shook up the whole world. Who chanted "the whole world is watching" in 1968? The baby boomers! Who burned their bras? Baby boomers! Burned draft cards? Baby boomers. Fought for equal rights? Baby boomers! Protested an ugly war? Baby boomers! Were the first to talk about the environment? You got it.
It's evident that there is a new "R" word for this generation and its not 'retire'. The new 'R' stands for "reinvent". People in their 50's, 60's, 70's and beyond want another journey to experience. They want to discover and return to their roots of the 1960's. The Baby Boomer generation always enjoyed hearing "you can't do that...you can't say that...you can't go there."
Well we're still here and we have some unleft business to attend to. For card carrying members of this generation of dreamers, its still our time. Time to discover our passions and live them to the fullest.
In coming blogs I'll be addressing the "how" of making those discoveries. I'll be offering advice, tips, and plans that everyone can use to guide them on their path to fulfillment.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Discover Your Passion
Welcome to Discovering Your Passion!
At one's core, in one's heart, resides the power, that unique passion, that 'thing', we want to accomplish in life. That "it" we've at least wanted to take a shot at. That hidden desire in our lives that we've kept hidden in a box deep in our souls. It could be a new profession, a trip you've always wanted to take, learn a new skill, go back to school, 'that dream', reunite with a friend, the thing we wanted to do in life but maybe those we trusted gave us a direction that was more comfortable for them!
Stop and ask yourself..."do you spend time doing things you don't want to do in places you don't want to be, for no other reason than you feel you have to?"
Do you ask, "What am I chasing after? * Why am I chasing it? * What is my purpose?
My LifeWorks blog is here for you. Articles, tips, motivational stories, real people successes and plans will be posted regularly to help those who are ready to start their adventure. I am convinced that the greater percentage of baby boomers are ready to reinvent themselves. That's who baby boomers are in today's world.
A survey revealed that people 80 years of age and older had very few regrets for the things they had attempted in life. Conversely, the same group of people reported that they DID HAVE regrets for the things they hadn't tried in life. As one older gentleman put it, "his use on or before expiration" date had come and gone for trying those things he would have pursued if he were younger. Baby boomers and others want to discover what their passion, dream, "it" is today and then go out and achieve it.
For some it means leaving a legacy, others its about fulfillment, and for some people it's not getting cheated in being all they can become in life.
So let's get started...yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not promised, and today is all we have. I look forward to helping you and hearing what "passion" you've disocvered and brought to light.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
A LifeWorks Moment
A "LifeWorks Moment" is a time, story, incident that occurred in my life when weaved into all the others, makes me the person I am today as well as my business LifeWorks. I find when I do presentations, workshops, and speeches, people enjoy being able to connect with me.
I get that look from audience members that says, "yep been there".
Its been a tough year for the the Class of '71 for the Webster City Lynx. My graduating class was a pretty good size one for a school out in the cornfields of north central Iowa. We had slightly over 200 graduates. But now we're at that age when its sad to hear but not unexpected, to learn of a fallen classmate. You're first thought is "holy cow are you kidding..." Then you stop and realize "hey we're the same age. We played on the same team, lockered next to each other." And now they're gone!
Some of my classmates have died in tragic ways. When you remember the person and then see how they have died...well it just doesn't add up.
Now the Purple & Gold of '71 will celebrate its 40th reunion in August 2011. I'm in that phase of my life where I tell people "I don't even feel 40 let alone be celebrating my 40th year after graduating." There may be a slight bit of denial going on with me!
Through the past few months several of my classmates have died. Actually enough of them passed away that it set off an alarm. So a picnic was held this past weekend for those who could attend back in Webster City. You know get the old gang back together before someone else bites the bullet. Not too many attended. But for those who did I understand it was a good time.
Forty years! Classmates have passed on. Many of us live all over the United States. Many have remarkable careers. I think the one thing we weren't thinking of in 1971 was the day when we'd share pictures of our grandchildren. Grandchildren! Are you kidding? That's tough to admit when as a baby boomer we're just never going to get that old.
And then I noticed something in one of the 'post-picnic' emails. There was a message from one of my classmates who apparently attended the picnic. This classmate wrote, "I know I wasn't very popular back then but I still remember 'the days of the Class of 71'.
Ugh! Somewhere in that line is a story. This person is in their mid-50's. They are nearly 40 years removed from that graduation night of May 1971. I feel somewhat sad for that person. Part of me wants to say "oh get on with it" and another part of me says, "well its what they remember about those days and how some people treated them."
For those who "blended in", were wallflowers, and just went about life...yep you weren't too cool then. You may have lived on the "other side of town." Or maybe your parents were blue collar workers. You may have even went to the 'wrong' elementary school. And probably like every other high school there were the "cool" kids. They may have been alittle more athletic, maybe alittle more attractive and maybe their parents had alittle nicer house and car. And I guess that buys you an attitude that says "I'm alittle bit better than you." Apparently there's still at least one class member who has that memory after all these years. So as much as we want to say "Hey we're the Class of '71 let's hear it for the Lynx..." well maybe we haven't changed all that much after 40 years.
I get that look from audience members that says, "yep been there".
Its been a tough year for the the Class of '71 for the Webster City Lynx. My graduating class was a pretty good size one for a school out in the cornfields of north central Iowa. We had slightly over 200 graduates. But now we're at that age when its sad to hear but not unexpected, to learn of a fallen classmate. You're first thought is "holy cow are you kidding..." Then you stop and realize "hey we're the same age. We played on the same team, lockered next to each other." And now they're gone!
Some of my classmates have died in tragic ways. When you remember the person and then see how they have died...well it just doesn't add up.
Now the Purple & Gold of '71 will celebrate its 40th reunion in August 2011. I'm in that phase of my life where I tell people "I don't even feel 40 let alone be celebrating my 40th year after graduating." There may be a slight bit of denial going on with me!
Through the past few months several of my classmates have died. Actually enough of them passed away that it set off an alarm. So a picnic was held this past weekend for those who could attend back in Webster City. You know get the old gang back together before someone else bites the bullet. Not too many attended. But for those who did I understand it was a good time.
Forty years! Classmates have passed on. Many of us live all over the United States. Many have remarkable careers. I think the one thing we weren't thinking of in 1971 was the day when we'd share pictures of our grandchildren. Grandchildren! Are you kidding? That's tough to admit when as a baby boomer we're just never going to get that old.
And then I noticed something in one of the 'post-picnic' emails. There was a message from one of my classmates who apparently attended the picnic. This classmate wrote, "I know I wasn't very popular back then but I still remember 'the days of the Class of 71'.
Ugh! Somewhere in that line is a story. This person is in their mid-50's. They are nearly 40 years removed from that graduation night of May 1971. I feel somewhat sad for that person. Part of me wants to say "oh get on with it" and another part of me says, "well its what they remember about those days and how some people treated them."
For those who "blended in", were wallflowers, and just went about life...yep you weren't too cool then. You may have lived on the "other side of town." Or maybe your parents were blue collar workers. You may have even went to the 'wrong' elementary school. And probably like every other high school there were the "cool" kids. They may have been alittle more athletic, maybe alittle more attractive and maybe their parents had alittle nicer house and car. And I guess that buys you an attitude that says "I'm alittle bit better than you." Apparently there's still at least one class member who has that memory after all these years. So as much as we want to say "Hey we're the Class of '71 let's hear it for the Lynx..." well maybe we haven't changed all that much after 40 years.
What is Success?
How do you answer the question..."Success is...?" The problem for most people who want to be successful is not that they can't achieve success. The main hurdle for them is that they misunderstand success. Success can have many different faces. Maltbie Babcock said, "One of the most common mistakes and one of the costliest is thinking that success is due to some genius, some magic, something or other which we do not possess."
So what is success? What does success look like? Most people have a vague picture of what it means to be a successful person.
Most individuals equate success with money. Nothing wrong with that. More power to you if you are skilled with such success. But if that's your only definition of success then you might not have the best of definitions. Through the ages, great men have taught that wealth and what it brings are at best fleeting. Everyone enters the world with nothing and exits with the same amount.
For example, in 1923, a small group of the world's wealthiest men met at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. They were the "Who's Who" of wealth and power. At that time, they controlled more money than the total amount contained in the United States Treasury. Here is a list of who was there and what eventually happened to them:
*Charles Schwab - president of the largest independent steel company...died broke.
*Arthur Cutten - greatest of the wheat speculators...died abroad, insolvent.
*Richard Witney - president of New York Stock Exchange... died just after his release from Sing Sing prison.
*Albert Fall - member of U.S. president's cabinet...was pardoned from prison so that he could die from home.
*Jes Livermore - greatest "bear" on Wall Street...committed suicide.
*Leon Fraser - president of Bank of International Settlements...committed suicide.
*Ivar Kreuger - head of the world's greatest monopoly...committed suicide.
Even Greek millionaire Aristotle Onassis who retained his wealth and died at a ripe old age, recognized that money isn't the same as success. Onassis maintained that "after you reach a certain point, money becomes unimportant. What matters is success."
So what is it in life that inspires you to be successful? How can you achieve it? Who needs to be involved with your pursuit?
Whenever I used a tool from my grandfather's work shed, or his lawnmower, his fishing tackle, whatever it was I can hear him say..."just make sure you put it back better than you found it."
Given that thought, maybe we can each measure how successful we are if we use our lives and talents to make our individual worlds better as we've live in them.
So what is success? What does success look like? Most people have a vague picture of what it means to be a successful person.
Most individuals equate success with money. Nothing wrong with that. More power to you if you are skilled with such success. But if that's your only definition of success then you might not have the best of definitions. Through the ages, great men have taught that wealth and what it brings are at best fleeting. Everyone enters the world with nothing and exits with the same amount.
For example, in 1923, a small group of the world's wealthiest men met at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. They were the "Who's Who" of wealth and power. At that time, they controlled more money than the total amount contained in the United States Treasury. Here is a list of who was there and what eventually happened to them:
*Charles Schwab - president of the largest independent steel company...died broke.
*Arthur Cutten - greatest of the wheat speculators...died abroad, insolvent.
*Richard Witney - president of New York Stock Exchange... died just after his release from Sing Sing prison.
*Albert Fall - member of U.S. president's cabinet...was pardoned from prison so that he could die from home.
*Jes Livermore - greatest "bear" on Wall Street...committed suicide.
*Leon Fraser - president of Bank of International Settlements...committed suicide.
*Ivar Kreuger - head of the world's greatest monopoly...committed suicide.
Even Greek millionaire Aristotle Onassis who retained his wealth and died at a ripe old age, recognized that money isn't the same as success. Onassis maintained that "after you reach a certain point, money becomes unimportant. What matters is success."
So what is it in life that inspires you to be successful? How can you achieve it? Who needs to be involved with your pursuit?
Whenever I used a tool from my grandfather's work shed, or his lawnmower, his fishing tackle, whatever it was I can hear him say..."just make sure you put it back better than you found it."
Given that thought, maybe we can each measure how successful we are if we use our lives and talents to make our individual worlds better as we've live in them.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Workplace Ethics and Principles
Author John Luther wrote, "Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents are, to some extent, a gift. Good character, by contrast, is not given to us. We have to build it piece by piece, by thought, choice, courage and determination."
American businesses focus on profitability and success. They profess doing whatever it takes to make profits. So, the question is:
Well, if you see the recent cases of scandals, frauds, and irregularities that have been reported in the media related to businesses, government and corporations, it seems almost mandatory that ethics/principles need to make a strong comeback in the American workforce.
Character 360 is an ethics/principles training program, from LifeWorks, a personal and professional development business. Character 360 helps build strong teams and foster enhanced ethics thus creating increased work productivity.
Business ethics in today's world play an important role in a company's success or failure. A company has a special obligation to its customers and clients to be ethical. Research has proven that if your business is honest, fair, and trustworthy, people would rather do business with you than with a company that does not have these qualities.
American businesses focus on profitability and success. They profess doing whatever it takes to make profits. So, the question is:
Where do workplace ethics fit in such a scenario?
But, how do you train employees in something like ethics?
Character 360 is an ethics/principles training program, from LifeWorks, a personal and professional development business. Character 360 helps build strong teams and foster enhanced ethics thus creating increased work productivity.
Business ethics in today's world play an important role in a company's success or failure. A company has a special obligation to its customers and clients to be ethical. Research has proven that if your business is honest, fair, and trustworthy, people would rather do business with you than with a company that does not have these qualities.
A Character 360 Seminar/Workshop will promote:
- Improved productivity
- Increased profitability
- Improved employee morale
- Enhanced recruitment and retention of employees
- Better company reputation
- Long-term success
Contact me, Dick Creek, today about your company and building a stronger more productive business and reputation. Character 360 is available in the following formats:
Lunch-n-Learn
Keynote Presentation
One Day Workshop
Call me today at: 402.391.4364 to set up your event or you can email me at: rdcreek@cox.net
Take the next step towards a stronger and respected company by scheduling
Character 360
Saturday, June 26, 2010
A LifeWorks Moment
Who doesn't like reading a really good book, article, column, etc. by a outstanding writer. But for me there are times I'd rather read about the author and get to know who that person is. Those times and experiences that have made them the person they are and how those times influence how they interact with people. I guess we could call it the "pull back the curtain" and "sneak a peek" approach in getting to know them. I mean really everyone likes reading a personal story about someone else!
So today I start a column with my LifeWorks blog called "Snapshot". This column will be about a time in my personal life that had an affect on who I am today and will offer you a peek behind the curtain of my life. It could be an incident that happened, a person that I have known, something funny, something sad. My hope is whatever is written will help you get to know me. That "Snapshots" will be fun to read and offer a bit of wisdom.
I had the great fortune in my first profession of my life to be a minister. That surprises many people...not sure if that's a good or bad thing come to think of it. Being in the ministry provided me tons of experiences that most people will never have. There were so many 'life' moments that occurred at any time that quoting the Boy Scouts, you just had to "be prepared".
When I was 22 years old, I got my first call that a gentleman was at the local hospital and close to dying. If I remember correctly he was a retired farmer in his 80's. As I entered his darkened hospital room, he opened his eyes and I introduced myself and who I was. I told him that a family member had asked me to visit him. He was very close to checking out and leaving this earth. I said all the right things that I had been taught to say at a moment like this. I was caring, called him by his first name, did my best to offer comfort. Not bad for a 22 year old. The old man listened intently and looked me straight in the eye. It may sound funny but I was pretty proud of myself. I mean after all I'm a 22 year old! What don't you know at that age. But then the tables were turned. I'll never forget that my hands were on the bed railing. He took his withered hand and tightly squeezed my hand and looked at me and said, "Do something I can't go yet!" There was a real sense of urgency and a hint of panic in his voice. He repeated himself, "Boy do something I'm not ready and I can't go yet." My first thought was I don't remember being in class and going over this particular issue! I had no answer that would satisfy him. Talk about feeling inadequate. The look in his eyes is something I've not forgotten...he was serious in his request. And it was one I couldn't do anything about.
Later that day the old farmer passed away. Not sure if he got things worked out the way he wanted it or not. My guess is he didn't.
What did I learn? Several things that I share with people in many of my presentations. First of all today is all you have... period. No one and I do mean no one has a guarantee they will be here tomorrow. We're all one heart beat from the end. Second, whatever needs to be resolved with another person should be attempted as soon as possible. I understand it takes two to resolve an "issue" but have the knowledge that you tried. Third, whatever you do have no regrets at the end of your way. And finally, live your life to fullest...there are no dress rehersals.
So today I start a column with my LifeWorks blog called "Snapshot". This column will be about a time in my personal life that had an affect on who I am today and will offer you a peek behind the curtain of my life. It could be an incident that happened, a person that I have known, something funny, something sad. My hope is whatever is written will help you get to know me. That "Snapshots" will be fun to read and offer a bit of wisdom.
I had the great fortune in my first profession of my life to be a minister. That surprises many people...not sure if that's a good or bad thing come to think of it. Being in the ministry provided me tons of experiences that most people will never have. There were so many 'life' moments that occurred at any time that quoting the Boy Scouts, you just had to "be prepared".
When I was 22 years old, I got my first call that a gentleman was at the local hospital and close to dying. If I remember correctly he was a retired farmer in his 80's. As I entered his darkened hospital room, he opened his eyes and I introduced myself and who I was. I told him that a family member had asked me to visit him. He was very close to checking out and leaving this earth. I said all the right things that I had been taught to say at a moment like this. I was caring, called him by his first name, did my best to offer comfort. Not bad for a 22 year old. The old man listened intently and looked me straight in the eye. It may sound funny but I was pretty proud of myself. I mean after all I'm a 22 year old! What don't you know at that age. But then the tables were turned. I'll never forget that my hands were on the bed railing. He took his withered hand and tightly squeezed my hand and looked at me and said, "Do something I can't go yet!" There was a real sense of urgency and a hint of panic in his voice. He repeated himself, "Boy do something I'm not ready and I can't go yet." My first thought was I don't remember being in class and going over this particular issue! I had no answer that would satisfy him. Talk about feeling inadequate. The look in his eyes is something I've not forgotten...he was serious in his request. And it was one I couldn't do anything about.
Later that day the old farmer passed away. Not sure if he got things worked out the way he wanted it or not. My guess is he didn't.
What did I learn? Several things that I share with people in many of my presentations. First of all today is all you have... period. No one and I do mean no one has a guarantee they will be here tomorrow. We're all one heart beat from the end. Second, whatever needs to be resolved with another person should be attempted as soon as possible. I understand it takes two to resolve an "issue" but have the knowledge that you tried. Third, whatever you do have no regrets at the end of your way. And finally, live your life to fullest...there are no dress rehersals.
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