Health, relationship, career and life advice at ProLong Magazine » Blogs

Finding The Fountain of Youth: My Personal Beatlemania

Staff — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:36:49 +0000

By Robert J. Ottaviani

Beatlemania 1964
I’ve just seen THE BEATLES. I’ve just seen THE BEATLES. I watched them stride on stage one-by-one sporting their trademark dark pegged pants tucked neatly inside their Beatle boots while a neatly tailored buttoned suit coat with a nehru collar framed their slender shoulders while wagging their mopped haired heads. They walked out with a dash of confidence and armed with their quirky sense of British humor. They tapped their Beatle boots on the floor to count down the rhythm to start the song … one, two, three, four. Two and one half minute little jewels of musical virtuosities ensued, each one brimming with beautiful melodies that you sang along to and a beat you could tap your feet to. Beatlemania was alive and well and performing for a United States audience at the Ed Sullivan theatre.
It was 1964 and I was an overly anxious fan waiting for this very moment My affection for them was such that I truly felt they were singing only to me and obliviously since 73 MILLION people witnessed this historic musical event, I may have been wrong.
Maybe that was part of their charm and magic. Even to this day I am hard pressed to explain this huge fascination I have with the group, an almost zen like connection from the very first moment I heard them. They spoke to me in a way no other group had and still hasn’t today.

Giving In
I was basically a traditionalist, a purist who would only see them as a foursome intact. Since THE BEATLES came over to the states in 1964 and until they disbanded in 1970, I was still too young to see them live. The following years to come would test my resolve as John would be assassinated and George would eventually succumb to cancer. With each passing year I realized my opportunity to experience any part of my musical idols was lessening. I could go to a Ringo Starr concert but his was more of a self promotional venue and he had very little song writing background when compared to the other three. Not that Ringo wasn’t a sweetheart of a guy, because I’ve heard other musicians testify to that very fact. So Paul became my focus, one half of the greatest song writing team that ever lived. I knew his show would pay a huge tribute to his roots … THE BEATLES. In addition, I knew his interpretation of the songs would be true to their roots, why alter with original brilliance of the compositions, right? I heard the news that Paul was interested in opening the Console Energy Center in Pittsburgh, PA and decided that my stubbornness be put aside. Paul was 68 years young and quite possibly playing Pittsburgh for the last time. Tickets went on sale and the 18,000 seat facility was sold out in two minutes. A second show was added and also sold out in less than three minutes. Beatlemania indeed! Paul’s allure was as strong as ever and apparently his 40-year hiatus from the mega group did nothing to wane his popularity.

All photographs courtesy and copyright of Shawn Plassmeyer.

Wednesday August 18th … SHOW ONE
We arrive at the Center at 6p.m., the scheduled time the gates are to open for the 7:30 start. I notice the crowd is represented by every age group in anticipation of seeing the rock icon. An announcement is made that Paul’s plane has been delayed and the show will be late in starting. This little two-hour glitch pales in comparison to my 40-year wait to see Macca as I hear others fuss around me. The fact that I can hear his sound check as I wait in line actually heightens my zeal for his show to begin. The line is suddenly moving and we shortly are in our seats, which are in the first section above the floor and across the arena from the stage. Two large screens flank the stage and are showing the boys in their early years both individually and collectively as Beatle music is played and all things that relate to the fab four are highlighted throughout. There is an incredible buzz in the air that’s seems to be building to a frenzy and then … out walks Sir James Paul McCartney. He is nattily attired in a long dark suit coat looking young beyond his years and svelte in stature. One, two, three, four, they launch into a Wings number to kick off the show, which would last three hours and feature 35 songs, 22 from the Beatles library of music. He has obviously found the fountain of youth as he delivers a high energy act that leaves you dumbfounded as to how he can maintain this vibe after so many shows, so many years. It occurs to me that the answer is … love. He loves what he does for a living. You can see the passion he has for his craft and how he is totally comfortable in the spotlight. The night swells into moments when you are sure that you have reached a musical zenith, when it can’t possibly get any better … and then it does, again and again. I leave totally satisfied convinced I have witnessed one of the greatest moments in my life, and then …

Thursday August 19th SHOW NUMBER TWO
I flash my ticket to the first attendant on the floor who tells me to keep walking toward the stage. Eventually, I am seated SIX rows back from stage almost directly dead center. I immediately sense the enormity of this circumstance as I am practically about to share a stage with “the greatest composer of the millennium” according to online readers. Although I have paid dearly for my seat, I never use it for I, as well as everyone around me stand to pay homage to the “cute Beatle”.
The house lights go down and Sir Paul leads his band on stage wasting no time picking up his trademark hofner violin bass and launching into ALL MY LOVING and THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD, soon to be followed with I’M LOOKING THROUGH YOU and BLACKBIRD. After mixing in some Wings classics like JET and BAND ON THE RUN he returned to his BEATLES roots with ELEANOR RIGBY and OB-LA-DI,OB-LA-DA. He moved adroitly from bass guitar to acoustic guitar to electric guitar to piano and mandolin with equal dexterity. He made it a point to pay tribute to his ex wife Linda (MY LOVE), to John (GIVE PEACE A CHANCE) and To George (Something). He made sure the crowd acknowledged their contributions. He had constant interplay with the crowd, regaling us with jokes and anecdotes of Hendrix and Clapton. He had the crowd totally eating out of his hands, enough to make Jim Jones jealous. We were all drinking the cool aid and thirsting for more. The crowd stood throughout the evening singing the words and cheering wildly after every song.

In one of the quieter moments between songs he stood back and read all the signs that were made. Ours mentioned the fact that our grandson McCARTNEY ROBERT was his namesake. He slowly read the words, made eye contact with us and tapped his fist over his heart in appreciation. What a moment!

A short time later he had the entire crowd singing the chorus from HEY JUDE and then LET IT BE and A DAY IN THE LIFE were played. Wave after wave of emotion flooded my body with each song selection. I’ve just seen THE BEATLES … I’ve just seen THE BEATLES. No, in the purest sense of truth I hadn’t. But you didn’t need much of an imagination after listening to Paul carrying on that wonderful legacy from yesteryear and taking people on the musical journey of their lives. It’s been days since the concerts have ended but I’m having trouble getting the songs out of my head. I find myself singing them throughout the day, like they’ve been burned into my psyche. I suspect many others are experiencing similar symptoms. From these nights I carry home pictures, t-shirts and my ticket stub but more importantly a treasure chest full of memories in my head and in my heart.

Robert J. Ottaviani (Bert) is a cusp born Aries the ram who has lived through summer of love in the late sixties and the hippie culture that bled into the seventies. He has a passion for music, gardening and all things nature … and laffy taffy. He is freakishly aware of music trivia to absurd levels. Most days you can find him playing his guitar or jotting down lyrics. He was so impacted from the moment he first heard the Beatles that he has Beatle manianized his life, been to Liverpool, England and remains convinced he is the fifth Beatle. He is married to a gentle and lovely vibe of a woman with three wonderful children. He currently lives and resides in strawberry fields forever.

How Much Grounding Is Good?

Staff — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 17:23:41 +0000

Distinguishing Your Work from Your Life

By Jack Clifford

We are naturally grounded.
We are taught that dreaming can be bad, dangerous and if you dream too much it will hold you back in life.
Our parents, family and friends have bought into the system, and thus if we don’t follow along something is wrong.
Go to college, get a job, it doesn’t matter if it is in your field or not, you need to work, you need to pay the bills.
It is a formula that can sometimes creates unhappy and unfulfilled people.
It leaves many with the feeling that their job is OK, but they want more.
We want our work to have value. We want to know that we are working towards something, anything, not just making others get richer quicker.
The American people are burned out on the current structure of work.
Our companies are run by soulless robots, which have no vision or value for their employees. We need meaning in our careers and most of our 9-5 cubical lives are not cutting it. When did dreaming become so bad?

Making the Choice
Dave Mathews of the Dave Matthew’s Band had a clear choice and a clear path. Go to college or spend that time getting a jump start on following his dream. He spent the four years that many were away at college driving around the country in a van with fellow musicians taking whatever gigs they could honing his voice, his act and his art.
Is this an option and the answer for everyone? Of course not.
But does following one’s dream sometimes work? Absolutely.
Note: College works for many but not if you are just going because you are supposed to be there and it is the thing to do.

Life Lessons Learned the Hard Way
For years I used to say that the most important thing that I learned in college was how to deal and work with people. You get thrown into this bag with a bunch of strangers. There are conflicts, relationships, hardships, and drama. And in the end you leave with some friends and some enemies.
But did I really need to pay thousands of dollars a year for that experience?
Dave Matthews had a similar experience and turned it into a career.

Grounded From Quitting Our Jobs
So what is keeping the average person from quitting their job tomorrow and following their true passions in life? Mostly fear I would guess: The fear of the economy, the fear of unemployment, the fear of the unknown and the fear of failing and falling. That fear will keep you unhappy and unfulfilled for a long time.

Smart Visionaries
Be smart about it kids. Don’t march into your boss’s office and quit. This only screws you. Plan and plan well. Find a job that inspires you. An economy like this can actually be full of new opportunities. Companies are building for the “Upswing” now, seek those places out. Take a pay cut if you have to, but do something that changes your life forever, instead of continuing in the broken pattern of yesterday. When you are 80 years old, will you look back and say “that job that broke my spirit paid the bills” or “I can’t imagine what my life would have become if I hadn’t broken the pattern.”

Final Thoughts On Viewing The Truth
If you were to somehow see a list of what everyone in your company makes, would you be able to live with the fact that your boss makes 5 times more than you do? Would you vomit at how top heavy your company is with unjust salaries while you struggle to pay your bills? Would you quit tomorrow? Sometimes we need that extra push. I hope to be able to push you back into reality as I know it.

Jack Clifford quit his job years ago after discovering that his salary was unjust. A former executive showed him what everyone in the company was making and he could no longer cope with the vast unjust landscape that was his former reality. He is now fully self-sufficient and making a living on a variety of startup companies and ventures and has never looked back once. Clifford motivates by encouraging others to take control of their lives. Jack Clifford’s sobriety is reality.

Letting A Run Go Every Once In A While

Staff — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 01:15:19 +0000

Allowing Time For Life To Sneak Up While Still Getting Your Miles

By Greg Albert

I am a creature of habit. I believe in self-discipline and holding myself to goals that I set out. That self-discipline helped me immensely in law school when I could have been watching TV and playing video games all the time. (Truth be told, I did a lot of both over the last 3 years.)

But while self-discipline is generally a positive thing, I have found that I have a tough time moderating it. It’s the old saying: moderation in everything, including moderation. Instead of giving myself a break and running or biking another day, I go out and bang out the miles even if I’m not feeling up to it. Again, that’s generally a good thing, but it creates absolutely no flexibility into the schedule to allow for, well, life to sneak up.

It’s almost like the movie, If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium. If it’s Tuesday, I’m running or biking. And I’m doing that whether it’s hot or cold, raining or sunny, thundering or snowing. And I do it because it’s on the schedule. If it’s not on the schedule, I don’t do it.

During the bar, this type of discpline was critical. My days were heavily structured and scheduled, so I put exercise into the schedule and stuck to it. But, as of late, I haven’t had much of a schedule as I have had a couple of weeks off.

And you know what? It’s actually OK to miss a run or bike ride. It’s OK to change it to a different day because your stomach is upset or there’s something else to do. I know it doesn’t sound like much of a revelation to most of you, but for me, it’s like the first I’ve ever heard it. We’re so funny that way, aren’t we?

But with everything else, I can’t let too many runs or rides slide. I still need to hit the road as often as possible and get my miles in. At least for now, I just don’t have to be so incredibly rigid.

I guess there’s a first time for everything.

Greg recently completed law school in Concord, New Hampshire. He ran from Philadelphia to Los Angeles during his years at law school (all virtually). Those 2,736 miles have kept him motivated to hit the roads in the summer heat and the winter cold. He’s run two marathons, a self-created ultramarathon, numerous 5Ks, 10Ks, and half-marathons, and most recently did a century bike ride across three states. Catch Greg’s Blog located at Greg’s Blog

Erasing The Shame and Power Of The F-Word

Staff — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 02:50:01 +0000

A Message To The Unemployed Of America

By Jim Calder

I used to fear the fact that I have been fired from a job. I used to be ashamed of it. I used to think it was my entire fault and that I must have been doing something terribly wrong in my career. Then one day I woke up, stopped looking in my rear view and focused on the highways of my career ahead of me. I will tell you all about my story, but first let me tell you about the story that inspired this article.

Things Overheard At The Beach
“Eddie got the job. Mom, Eddie got the job. Oh my God … I am so happy for you. You really needed this Eddie. Dad, Eddie got the job.”
These are words overheard recently during a relaxing day at the beach.
There is nothing like the joy of discovering that another company wants you whether you are currently employed or not.
By the reaction of the family next to us at the beach I am guessing that Eddie was not currently employed. As I write this, unemployment currently stands at the staggering amount of 9.6% as of June 2010, which is down slightly from 10.4% in February. This is unimaginable, that means close to 1 out of 10 of us are unemployed!

The Stigma of Being Unemployed
In a good economy or bad there is a stigma attached to being unemployed. Family members and friends who have jobs can seem to look or talk down to you and feel sorry for you. Whether one is fired or laid off the sting and shame from being unemployed can have powerful long lasting effects on ones self-confidence and their career.
Some therapists even go as far as equating the loss of a job to the loss of a friend or relative, although I believe that is going way too far. Nonetheless, it is a trauma that many are forced to deal with and overcome.

Filling the Gaps
When 10 percent of the Nation is out of work they start to get stressed about how will it look to future employers that I have been out of work for 6 month, 1 year, or more. However, I have faith that employers will realize that this is beyond the individual and there currently are bigger problems at hand in the country than a few time gaps in a candidate’s resume. Still, if you are overly concerned with the gaps while you are searching for jobs and interviewing you should and can create something. Start a blog or a website or your own side company. Try making your own magazine like we did with ProLong Magazine. I guarantee that future employers will love the initiative.

From My View
I myself have been unemployed 3 times in my 10 years of professional employment. Each time has been a unique circumstance and challenge. I believe that dealing with unemployment should be a class that is taught to all students in high school or college.
None of my professors or teachers ever prepared me for even the possibility of this struggle, and with such high numbers unemployed it is unrealistic for educators to ignore.

Erasing The Shame And Power Of The F-Word
There is a shame that comes with getting fired. But I am here to tell you all that there doesn’t need to be that feeling. I have been fired before and it has only made me a stronger more creative person. So have several of my close family members who I respect more than anyone and many other amazing talented people that I know. My personal details of why, when, and how or even how often are extremely irrelevant to the weight of my message that I want you to receive and hold onto.
There is life after being fired. Hopefully if you google “How to Help Someone Who Has Been Fired” this article will be there for you and you can suggest it to your loved ones. The road is extremely hard and difficult at first but you will become stronger in the end.

In a sort of weird almost backwards lesson of being fired you learn that no one person other than yourself (especially an employer) will hold power over your life.

You are in charge of your life and far too much importance and responsibility is placed by us on our employers for our success in the future.
Note: I said this is self-inflicted and you have the power to change that. Once you take “The Fear of Getting Fired” power away from your employers, you will be in complete control. I no longer fear getting fired from my job because I know that I am doing the absolute best at my job with the tools that are at my disposal. If my company decides that our relationship is to end, than I am obviously not meant to be continuing on at that location.

Knowing When To Hold Them Or Fold Them
Here is the truth, as I know it. There are a lot, underscore a lot, of unprofessional and disorganized companies in today’s marketplace. They operate this way simply because they can. They realize that most employees do not have the money to sue over wrongful termination and they take full advantage of that fact.
You may have bosses who abuse their power over their employees or are simply are not organized or ready to run a department effectively. Somewhere along the way the lines got twisted and people started believing that putting up with bad bosses in order to not be fired was a good thing.

When and why did putting up with these types just to “not get fired” become a badge of honor to be proud?

Congratulations, you shoveled copious amounts of bull shit for 10, 20, 30 years for nothing. Great, job, way to go!

The New Badge Of Ownership
A lesson that I have recently learned along my personal trip is that the real badge of courage is to admit that you were fired and own it. When I hire my own employees, I will never hold the fact that someone was fired against them. In fact I am quite sure that it will be the complete opposite of that. I will take the gamble that in most cases of someone being fired that it was not really a bad thing. Going through the experience of being fired is both humbling and builds strong character and survival skills that should be valued.
It has been my experience that many unprepared bosses have fired people for the following?
1) Not playing by the old rules (coming in early, staying late, working weekends, etc.) even though the work they produce is better than most. There is a fear that this person’s attitude towards the rules will spread like some type of evil airborne disease. And the hard truth is that companies would be lucky if that type of work ethic did spread.
2) Creative Differences - You have so many creative differences with the powers that be that it becomes no longer possible to perform your duties.
3) Personalities Don’t Match Up - Sometimes getting fired, boils down to having a clash in personality with your boss. Unfortunately, once one or even both parties realize this it is very hard to turn it around.
4) Cutting Costs – Sometimes bosses are directed to find excuses to fire someone when budgets are tight, or times are tough. They know if they can catch someone on Facebook a couple of times and then say “Joe was on Facebook too much, we fired him.” It sends a message of fear to the rest of the workers. “Better not go on Facebook for a minute or you may be FIRED like Joe.”
5) You Are A Threat To Your Boss - Your work may be so original and impressive that your boss may fear that they will lose control over you, so better to get you out now while they can.

Tomorrow’s Stars
I would hire anyone fired for these reasons especially if they were doing something original and cutting edge instead of just following the rest pushing the wheel.
All we can do in life is pick ourselves up when we are knocked down. Once we stop doing this, we move backwards into a spiral of becoming a victim, which is extremely hard to reverse. Don’t fall into the old trappings of society when it comes to the F-word and you will do great.

Jim Calder is the brand architect and co-founder of ProLong Magazine. Jim was born with the perfect combination of cockiness and self consciousness. He has over 10 years of publishing industry experience and lives and works in Philadelphia, Pa. Jim strongly believes that the current 9-5 Monday-Friday format of “Work” is dying. Those that refuse to recognize this will be left behind in the decaying office complexes across America. He currently can be found on the greatest adventure of his life as a newlywed with his wife Melissa. Jim can be contacted via email at jim@prolongmagazine.com

Life Lessons Via Bert

Staff — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 02:07:00 +0000

By Robert J. Ottaviani

Parents are not like free refills. You have one set, drink them slowly

You may love, be loved, and be in love but you will never fully understand love. It is far too complex, mercurial and has layer after layer of depth. It is both vast and infinite and forever challenging.

Products cannot be both “new and improved”. If it’s improved it’s not new.

If you had to sacrifice one sense, would it be sight or hearing? Think about it.

One of the best and least expensive ways to improve your demeanor is a good haircut.

If the sky was green and the trees blue would we be living in a better world?

Hard work doesn’t always guarantee the best result but the alternative never will.

What is it about a new set of clothes that puts a little extra zip in you step?

Preparation is the best way to exude confidence at a meeting, interview or seminar. Put in the work before hand so you’re not selling as much as you are enhancing.

Was it a simpler life in simpler times or was it just because we were younger?

Remember when a guy wore his hair long he was considered a “bad element”. The length of one’s hair doesn’t determine his nature, his heart does!

A hard storm complete with lightning and thunder beats a fireworks display every day of the week.

If you live long enough you will see fashion trends, decor and accessories come back into vogue. They may be tagged vintage or retro but they were used decades ago and are experiencing a second life.

Do reality shows devalue the professional actor when “regular” people are the stars?

The mullet was a hairstyle that caused quite a stir when it surfaced and remains somewhat of a cultural phenomenon. Business in the front … party in the back.

Tattoos are no longer edgy, everybody has them.

I’d pay a king’s ransom to find the original creamsicle, not this popsicle sized generic imitation they sell today. I hate when they alter perfection.

Stress is not some new condition that only recently appeared. It’s been part of the world for long, long time. Its previous name was yelling, screaming and behaving badly.

Why does night time give you more apprehension than day time in the same exact environment?

Random acts of kindness still remain one of life’s little jewels.

Sports used to be a predominantly watched venue by males. Those days are changed forever.

Sometimes the best vacations have very little planning, they just unfold magically.

As much as the world has changed and it has evolved greatly, a first date has not. It still involves dinner and a movie more often than not.

Has Webster’s dictionary been rendered completely useless now that the internet is available?

A good friend is like your favorite blanket … warm, comforting and always there when you reach for it.

If you wake up in the morning contemplating how to get through the day … believe it or not you win again … if only because you’ve awoken.

Do they still have summer playground for kids? Those were some fond memories that I still carry with me whether it was table hockey or making lanterns.

Never let your guard down and be someone you are not … people are watching you whether they announce it or not.

The older I get the more I want to be a kid again … The years go by quicker now.

Death and taxes are NOT the only two certainties, prejudice will be here till the earth calls it quits.

I want the energy of a 10 year old, the looks of a 20 year old, the ambition of a 30 year old, the confidence of a 40 year old and the wisdom of a 50 year old and I want it all when I’m 25.

Traditional shopping malls are the last true dinosaurs inhabiting our earth.

What’s more important to you … winning or learning how to win?

Make a selection from the following: Health … Wealth … Peace of Mind.

Quitting cigarettes was the hardest thing I’ve done … that is if you don’t count relinquishing the remote to my spouse.

Robert J. Ottaviani (Bert) is a cusp born Aries the ram who has lived through summer of love in the late sixties and the hippie culture that bled into the seventies. He has a passion for music, gardening and all things nature … and laffy taffy. He is freakishly aware of music trivia to absurd levels. Most days you can find him playing his guitar or jotting down lyrics. He was so impacted from the moment he first heard the Beatles that he has Beatle manianized his life, been to Liverpool, England and remains convinced he is the fifth Beatle . He is married to a gentle and lovely vibe of a woman with three wonderful children. He currently lives and resides in strawberry fields forever.

6 Types of People

Staff — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:09:39 +0000

Which Are You?

By Robert J. Ottaviani

I believe that there are six types of people who interact with each other on this earth. They are as follows:

THE ONE UPPERS:

We have all encountered these types along the way. Your telling a story and when you are finished with your story it pales in comparison to the story the “ONE UPPER” is about to regale you with. Their stories are always much bolder, way longer and far more interesting and they’re only too smug to tell you so. That is, when they even allow you to even finish your story … because of their belief that everyone wants to listen to only them. ‘ONE UPPERS” crave the spotlight, need attention, and are genuinely not interested in your opinion. “ONE UPPERS” can leave you feeling uninteresting and largely inadequate and do not make you a better human being.

THE POLIANNA’S

Initially with these people you can succumb to their kindness. They are often referred to as being so nice. The poly’s allure is equal parts gentle persuasion, attentiveness and a complimentary nature. They are generally very upbeat and positive. They constantly look to find the silver lining even in times when there is simply none. Their garbage smells like potpourri and that stupid smiley face is their icon of choice. Their glass is always half full. But their shelf life is very short. They are constantly being overrun by aggressive people who exploit them and discover they’re fragile psyche. In a dog eat dog world they are the rawhide, chewed up constantly and spit out in the process.

THE WHACKS:

Per chance you have met them and probably quickly dismissed them because they don’t seem to fit into mainstream America but a closer look is warranted. They are the proverbial square peg in a round hole. The whacks don’t dress like you, don’t act like you and don’t live in the same world as you but interestingly enough are asked to interact with you. If you don’t invest a lot of emotional sacrifice and watch from a safe distance they are actually quite intriguing. Creativity, albeit misguided at times can be a central part of their journey through life. Genetically, they are not wired like you and therefore their theories and perceptions are really quite amusing. They are actually some of my favorite people because they can bring a smile to your face and break up the monotonous normalcy of everyday living. They are the car wreck you are freakishly fascinated by but glad you are not experiencing yourself.

THE 9 -5′ERS:

These groups need to exercise extreme caution, probably more so than most. Without much fanfare you will slip into a cyclical routine of boredom. Work, sleep, and wait for the weekend. Work, sleep, and wait for the weekend. Picture yourself on a treadmill with the off button just out of reach. Sometimes we just need to jump off. 9-5′ers generally have structure in their lives, are well organized and have little or no retail background. Social outings and events are usually planned well in advance and impromptu soirees are kept to a minimum. Friday night it’s a movie or a ballgame, Saturday a little work around the house, by Sunday you’re already thinking about work Monday morning so you shut it down early. If it’s a six sided box you’re living in be sure to open the lid and get some fresh air.

THE DOWNERS:

I’m handing out free samples of patience if you have these types in your life on a constant basis. Your constitution had better be very strong because as the saying goes … misery loves company. Let’s see, how does it work? Oh yea … You get that new job you always wanted BUT … now you have to get a new wardrobe. You buy your dream house BUT … now you have a mortgage. You win the lottery BUT now you have to pay the taxes. These folks have a bad case of the blues and I ain’t talkin B.B.KING. They are a weight, an albatross, and a cross to bear. If you are not a strong minded person it can bring you down to a level where it’s a long climb back up. Beware of the woe for it is a dropped anchor around your neck.

THE SALTS:

The salt of the earth. The solid reliable person you go to in any situation. They are unwavering, give solid advice after listening and always seem to have a feel for what you need to do. They are the person everyone seems to lean on and yet never seem overburdened by it all. Never frenetic in nature they are the calm reassuring voice you need to hear and they seldom ask for anything in return. When the world gives us a little more than we can handle these people are golden. You are lucky to have one in your life and blessed if you have more. The salts lighten your emotional load, pick up your spirits and set you back on the right path again. Their work is priceless.

Robert J. Ottaviani (Bert) is a cusp born Aries the ram who has lived through summer of love in the late sixties and the hippie culture that bled into the seventies. He has a passion for music, gardening and all things nature … and laffy taffy. He is freakishly aware of music trivia to absurd levels. Most days you can find him playing his guitar or jotting down lyrics. He was so impacted from the moment he first heard the Beatles that he has Beatle manianized his life, been to Liverpool, England and remains convinced he is the fifth Beatle . He is married to a gentle and lovely vibe of a woman with three wonderful children. He currently lives and resides in strawberry fields forever.

THIS IS NOT THE DREAM

Staff — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 03:00:37 +0000

The Working From Home Lifestyle Revolution

By Jim Calder

My wife woke up recently and said, “Wouldn’t it be great if we just had to wake up and walk downstairs to work? Think of all the time we would save, we could shower at lunch and wouldn’t have to spend an hour getting ready in the morning,” she said. “We wouldn’t each have to drive two hours every weekday.”
Just a few days later I was facing an hour and a half ride into work (my usual commute is only an hour each way) because of heavy rains. The horrible commute got me thinking, why don’t more people and more companies embrace the Work from Home (WFH) lifestyle?

My Manifesto

Most of the people that I know who seem to love their jobs also seem to be working from home. Some own their own business, others work from home full time, and others work from home only once a week. I currently work for an employer that gives me clearance to work from home once a week.
The common thread is the ability to balance our busy lives while merging our careers with our personal lives. This can only be found via the knowledge, understanding and foresight that the amount of hours spent in the decaying office parks of America do not equal doing great work. I know plenty of people who think they are fooling us. They show up first at the office and make sure that everyone knows that they were there the latest. These people are only fooling themselves. They are doing nothing original.

Not A Utopian Idea

A few decades ago this may have been a Utopian or even radical thought. But today it is just common sense. As we evolve as people we are beginning to realize the amount of stress that we take on through our careers. A major portion of this is from commuting to and from an office complex when we have all the tools that we need at home. As a proud member of the ROWE movement (Results Oriented Work Environment) ROWE , I am shocked that more people don’t work towards the goals of ROWE.
ROWE boils down to that fact that you are paid for the work that you do – your performance – not for the hours that you clock into an office.
One of my personal goals is to start to convince my current and/or future employers why coming into the office even four days a week is excessive for individuals who have proven their loyalty and dedication to their work.

Why People Don’t Get It

I think that there are common misconceptions that people have with the term; working from home:
Working From Home Doesn’t = Hate: Working from home does not mean that you hate your job, your office, your coworkers, or responsibilities. It just means that you would prefer more flexibility balancing your work and your personal life.
Abuse By Others: Putting “Air Quotes” around it when you say you are “working from home” is just about the dumbest thing a person can do. It makes you look like a total slacker and people pretty much assume that you don’t have a work ethic and just watch TV all day when you are working from home. But even worse, you ruin the experience and reputation of working from home for all of us who actually are more productive in the home office.
Jealously: Working from home is not for everyone. Doctors and nurses for instance would have trouble working from home all the time. Others are not dedicated enough and shouldn’t be working from home until they have learned to manage their workloads on their own without being told what to do. It is also difficult to work from home when you are in industries like retail and hospitality. However, for people in many office based industries it is not only a great option it is also an effective and smart move for companies.
It is Not A Day Off!: A common misconception about working from home is that it is a “day off”. There is nothing further from the truth than this statement. If anything you have to work harder on days that you work from home, because people are watching and waiting for you to screw up.

Why WFH Works For The Employee

1) Working From Home is a statement from your employer, that they believe that you are doing a great job and want to see you become even more productive.
2) Eliminates stress. Not having to commute and sit in traffic to get to an office will most likely add years to your life and make you enjoying your work even more.
3) WFH allows you to multitask and do house chores like laundry, running the dishwasher, and more while working, which gives you more time for living life.
4) Many who work from home claim to have less distractions. Think of all the times people pop into your office, just to chat about the weekend or what’s new. This is eliminated when we are working from home and it makes you more productive.
5) More time to take care of yourself and your families. Our schedules are more flexible to take care of ourselves and our families (parents, children, partners, grandparents) and to go see the doctors when needed.
6) Salaried employees don’t punch a clock. Yet, so many employers are still judging their work based on the time that they spend in the office. This must change and we know it.
7) Technology allows us to communicate with team members and perform our work just as effective as when we are in the office.

Why WFH Is Smart For Employers

1) Happy and healthy. Employees feel true and earned respect for their employers for allowing them to have a chance at a happier and healthier life.
2) Increases loyalty. Employees who have been waiting for better times to make moves with their careers are starting to do so. WFH increases loyalty for employees that the company wishes to retain.
3) Office space and equipment are expensive. Most employees would be willing to use their own phones and own computers for the opportunity to work from home full time or the majority of the time. This cuts down on the costs for the company.
4) The technology has arrived. There are no longer excuses to not be able to WFH. Employees can call or Skype into meetings. We are in constant communication with coworkers with instant message tools like Skype, gchat, AOL or others. Email allows us to work from any location on the planet. Most IT directors can set employees up with remote access to the company’s servers.
5) Be progressive. Companies that have employees who work remotely are viewed as progressive and living in the current times, instead of set in the stone ages. You will attract better, stronger employees with a WFH policy.
6) Healthier employees that have the time to take care of their health are more valuable to companies than sick employees.

Are you Ready for Working From Home? Find out by continuing to read the rest of this article RIGHT NOW at Continue Reading Article .

Are You Listening

Staff — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 02:37:08 +0000

The Lost Art of Opening Your Ears

By Robert J. Ottaviani

The bald eagle, the bog turtle, the African elephant, the blue whales, the gorillas, the lynx, the snow leopard, the giant panda, the black rhino, the whooping crane and the rarest of all sightings … the listener. All of the these aforementioned items share a common trait. They are all on the endangered species list, the listener having just been nominated by this author for special consideration. If we don’t act fast we could lose one of our greatest resources we have been given … listening.

When I was a child growing up my parents used to take me to their friends homes to visit. Visiting was a big social event back then with the grown ups gathering for coffee, confections, and exchanging pleasantries. Before our trip got under way I was always given two choices and I quote … “you are to been seen and not heard” and “don’t open your mouth and people won’t know how stupid you are”. I know by today’s standard I could turn them in to CASA (The National Committee For Prevention Of Child Abuse) or some organization looking to champion kid’s rights. But back then that’s not exactly how it worked. Kids today have no idea how good they have it.

So given my two choices I chose to adhere to both of them. In actuality my parents were probably right on both counts. Given my lack of experience in almost all facets of life at such a young age I could have blurted something less than brilliant. Secondly and most importantly, it gave me the opportunity to learn a valued life lesson … how to listen. Something that appears so simple to do and yet so hard for many to enact nowadays.

“Everybody’s talkng at me … I don’t hear a word they’re saying … only the echoes of my mind.” Unfortunately Freddie Neil, who authored this song is not alone.

Everyone’s talking these days. Everyone has something to say. Everyone has a point to make … but who’s listening? The lost art of listening is in imminent danger. If you haven’t noticed maybe it’s because you haven’t listened. Take note of some conversations that you encounter and see if you can spot that member of the endangered species.

Let me end by saying the following … listening restores a certain dignity to the spoken word by showing restraint and a level of interest in what others are saying. Listening allows one to exploit the virtue of patience. Listening makes for a more well rounded individual. As long as we are talking we only know what we know and think … but by listening we know what others know as well as ourselves. Are you listening?

Robert J. Ottaviani (Bert) is a cusp born Aries the ram who has lived through summer of love in the late sixties and the hippie culture that bled into the seventies. He has a passion for music, gardening and all things nature … and laffy taffy. He is freakishly aware of music trivia to absurd levels. Most days you can find him playing his guitar or jotting down lyrics. He was so impacted from the moment he first heard the Beatles that he has Beatle manianized his life, been to Liverpool, England and remains convinced he is the fifth Beatle . He is married to a gentle and lovely vibe of a woman with three wonderful children. He currently lives and resides in strawberry fields forever.

The Technologically Overstimulated Army

Staff — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 22:00:23 +0000

Another Way To Look At Things

By Jim Calder

Do you have trouble focusing? Find that you are staying up later and later on the computer? Feel like you can never just focus your attention on one thing or project? The solution is simple, turn all your shit off permanently and go see a doctor. However, if this is too extreme for you, you could just read this blog and see a new way of looking at things.

I am technologically overstimulated.

Thanks to modern technology I have the attention span that is the size of a gnat. I had a half-day at work today and planned on working on a freelance project but as usual I got sucked into many, many things. My work email, Facebook, Facebook Chat, a Youtube video or 10, Gmail, Gchat, organizing my Google docs, Blackberry Messenger, Texts, and so on.

I find some evenings I am online for hours and have lost focus. I yearn for the days before my day when people sat in half lit rooms smoking and drinking whiskey while slowly typing ideas on a typewriter. Think of all the “boxes of failed ideas” that existed on hard paper somewhere in the rooms of the past. Ideas must have been more valuable back then, more rare. They weren’t just tweeted, posted on Facebook or emailed out without thinking them through.

Just as my attention span was about to rip me from this google doc that I am typing this blog in, a brave new thought hit me.

What if our “modern Technology” – especially the virtual chats – equals today’s version of “boxes of failed ideas”? Today, we hash and flush out our ideas with others instead of forming the ideas in quiet rooms on our own. We run our ideas past small focus groups consisting of family, friends, coworkers, and even strangers with similar interests.

Ideas kept to yourself will never thrive. Share them and grow them with others.

PS: Don’t fear the boxes of failed ideas, they are your biggest asset.

Join The “Construction People”

Staff — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 17:46:04 +0000

By Jim Calder

I am in the construction business, and have been for several years now. I don’t physically build houses, buildings, roads, etc. What I have been trying to build—or better yet to help build—are people. On our team, the “construction people” we believe that the more people that do well increases our chances for growing and doing well ourselves. This is not rocket science, it just makes sense.In fact it isn’t a new idea either, but it is good to be reminded of it often.

Qualities of the Construction People

-We take the time to lend advice.
-We take the time to give feedback.
-We take the time to lend our knowledge.
-We offer resources when we can.
-We encourage and give positive support.
-We realize that we can learn from watching others do well.
-We realize that everything in life does not have to be a big competition.
-We are teachers and learners.
-We embrace failure, but more importantly learn from it.
-We care.

The Demo Business

On the other side of the spectrum are the people in the demoing business.They rip people down whenever they see an opportunity. In this quick life we all will come across far too many in the demoing business. Sometimes it can take form of people who are scared individuals snickering and casting doubt about your new business venture. They may say how it will fail, they may say that you won’t find revenue, and they may say you don’t know what you are doing. I don’t know why, when, or how these people choose to go into the demoing business, but somewhere they make a clear choice.
It is sad and it is just plain lazy to be in the demo business, and perhaps that is what makes it so easy for some.

The Mind Set of a Loser

If you constantly go around bashing other people’s ideas, hopes, and dreams you are really kind of a scum bag. These people are tricking their own minds, by justifying the fact that they are lazy and don’t want to try and do something extraordinary with their lives themselves. They think to themselves … these people are all failing, so I won’t even try … because I am afraid of failure. These people route for failure by others to confirm their own doubts.
I say that failure should be worn as a badge of honor. If you are not failing you are not taking risks. If you are not failing, you are not doing anything worth talking about. If you are paralyzed by the fear of failure you are most likely only doing enough to get by, enough to please the boss, and enough to stay unoriginal forever.

The Rewards of a Builder

Yes, it takes a lot more energy to be a builder. But the rewards are also much greater. The next time you hear someone is starting something, building something from scratch, really think about it before you judge. Before the instinctual negative words of doubt come flowing from your mouth, do us all a favor and take a step back. Take a moment of reflection and and inner look at your soul and guts and think about why you are about to spew negativity into someone’s world. It just may change your life.