I took this picture very close to my home and I meant to post it to this site earlier.  I did put it on Facebook but thought that better late than never to post to this site!

Not sure who did this but I think it is awesome!  It was put together for Memorial Day.

We live in the greatest country in the world, and one of the main reasons is because of our troops. 

This is a shout out to all of our troops to thank them for all that they do!

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I took this about two weeks ago while driving back from playing golf with one of my buddies.  I think this is really a cool picture and didn't realize how cool it really was until I uploaded it to my Facebook page from my iPhone.

This picture turned out amazing to me, considering I was driving at the time – and was still moving!  Kids don't do as I do. 

After looking at it for a bit I realized how lucky I am.  Lucky to be alive, lucky to be able to enjoy nature and see the beauty in things.

With life so hectic, and difficult at times, I must admit that I lose perspective of how awesome life is.  I bet your life is awesome too?  Yes – you may have struggles right now and you may be in a place that feels uncomfortable, I can guarantee one thing, it will change – everything does.

Ok you may be thinking that every time "I work harder and push myself harder – life gets harder."   Seems like pushing an Elephant up the stairs!

All that means to me is that you are just getting closer to your goal.  The closer you get, the tougher it gets.  Just the way it is!  Don't stop moving forward, after all, life is a journey and not a destination. 

You achieve one goal and you should be onto the next one.  A rolling stone gathers no moss. 

… but I digress

Often times while fighting and throwing ninja kicks at life we forget to be grateful for what we have.  And I bet if you stop and think about it, you have a lot to be grateful for.  I do! 

I thank God for that…However I'm weak and often forget.  I forget to thank God and thank those close to me for being there.  I may not win every battle but I sure do keep on fighting.

I'm in no position to preach to anybody but I can say from personal experience that if you fight the good fight, you'll end of winning.

Thanks for reading this post!

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How many times have you caught yourself saying that there could be no other solution to a problem – and that that problem leads to a dead end? How many times have you felt stumped knowing that the problem laying before you is one you cannot solve. No leads.  No options.  No solutions. 

Did it feel like you had exhausted all possible options and yet are still before the mountain – large, unconquerable, and impregnable? When encountering such enormous problems, you may feel like you're hammering against a steel mountain. The pressure of having to solve such a problem may be overwhelming.

But rejoice! There might be some hope yet!

With some creative problem-solving techniques you may be able to look at your problem in a different light. And that light might just be the end of the tunnel that leads to possible solutions.

First of all, in the light of creative problem-solving, you must be open-minded to the fact that there may be more than just one solution to the problem. And, you must be open to the fact that there may be solutions to problems you thought were unsolvable.

Now, with this optimistic mindset, we can try to be a little bit more creative in solving our problems.

Number one; maybe the reason we cannot solve our problems is that we have not really taken a hard look at what the problem is. Here, trying to understanding the problem and having a concrete understanding of its workings is integral solving the problem. If you know how it works, what the problem is, then you have a better foundation towards solving the problem.

Not trying to make the simple statement of what problem is. Try to identify the participating entities and what their relationships with one another are. Take note of the things you stand to gain any stand to lose from the current problem. Now you have a simple statement of what the problem is.

Number two; try to take note of all of the constraints and assumptions you have the words of problem. Sometimes it is these assumptions that obstruct our view of possible solutions. You have to identify which assumptions are valid, in which assumptions need to be addressed.

Number three; try to solve the problem by parts. Solve it going from general view towards the more detailed parts of the problem. This is called the top-down approach. Write down the question, and then come up with a one-sentence solution to that from them. The solution should be a general statement of what will solve the problem. From here you can develop the solution further, and increase its complexity little by little.

Number four; although it helps to have critical thinking aboard as you solve a problem, you must also keep a creative, analytical voice at the back of your head. When someone comes up with a prospective solution, tried to think how you could make that solution work. Try to be creative. At the same time, look for chinks in the armor of that solution.

Number five; it pays to remember that there may be more than just one solution being developed at one time. Try to keep track of all the solutions and their developments. Remember, there may be more than just one solution to the problem.

Number six; remember that old adage," two heads are better than one." That one is truer than it sounds. Always be open to new ideas. You can only benefit from listening to all the ideas each person has. This is especially true when the person you're talking to has had experience solving problems similar to yours.

You don't have to be a gung-ho, solo hero to solve the problem. If you can organize collective thought on the subject, it would be much better.

Number seven; be patient. As long as you persevere, there is always a chance that a solution will present itself. Remember that no one was able to create an invention the first time around.

Creative thinking exercises can also help you in your quest be a more creative problems solver.

Here is one example.

Take a piece of paper and write any word that comes to mind at the center. Now look at that word then write the first two words that come to your mind. This can go on until you can build a tree of related words. This helps you build analogical skills, and fortify your creative processes.

So, next time you see a problem you think you can not solve, think again. The solution might just be staring you right in the face. All it takes is just a little creative thinking, some planning, and a whole lot of work.

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With the depressing things happening in the economy, employees are in a slump about their lives. Some will also be depressed because of the ways things are going for them and this depression can severely affect their lives in general especially the work that they put in. Because of this,, it is important for managers to take care of their employees’ wellbeing and increase their motivation levels.

It may not be easy doing this but it can be done. It is possible to create a positive and motivated environment even at these times of economic hardships. Here are some of the things that you can do to get your people to stay motivated and on task.

1. Give them rewards.
One of the best and perhaps easiest ways to motivate people is to give then rewards for a job well done. People are basically materialistic and they want something concrete for their efforts. This is especially true now that people want resources in addition to what they are already earning. Rewards are also instant things that they can easily connect with their achievements and efforts.

You can tie up monetary rewards for instance with their performance levels. Those who have perfect attendance or those who are never late can also be given rewards for their efforts. You can reward a lot of things, not just achievement.

2. Give them words of encouragement
There are some people who do not really care about the material gains. What they mostly care about is to know that they are doing a great job. You can reward them by words instead of material things. Praising is perhaps the less expensive thing that you can do to boost the morale of your people. Besides upping the level of motivation, you will also be creating a more together and bonded atmosphere in the company. People who praise their people are better looked up to as managers as opposed to those who do not say anything or those who only have disparaging remarks.

3. Interact with them
Being a manager, people will see you as something beyond their reach. Some will even see you with awe in their eyes. Reaching out to them and talking to them will be a great treat for your employees. This is especially true if you do not do this often. The shock effect will give your employees a certain feeling of togetherness and belongingness that they need to feel good about themselves and their jobs. Besides, with the boss talking to them, they will certainly feel more confident and more able to perform on the tasks given to them. After all, who would not want to be able to talk to the boss as if he or she is just a friend.

Motivation is an important aspect in business. The level of motivation that your people have will affect the performance that they will put in for their work. Ultimately, their performance will affect the company’s production level. Having well-motivated people is something that you should not let slip by the radar. If you want to really perform well in the market especially at these times when survival is important, take a look at your employees.

They may not be as motivated as you would want them to be. By increasing their motivation levels, you will basically ensuring the survival of your company.

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"Two men look out through the same bars: One sees the mud, and one sees the stars."- Frederick Langbridge, A Cluster of Quiet Thoughts

If you’ve placed second in a writing contest, will you jump for joy and push for better results the next time or will you be discouraged and find an excuse not to join again?

In life, you are always filled with choices. You may opt to have a pessimist’s view and live a self-defeated life or you may decide to take the optimist’s route and take a challenging and fulfilling life.

So why nurture an optimist’s point of view? And why now?

Well, optimism has been linked to positive mood and good morale; to academic, athletic, military, occupational and political success; to popularity; to good health and even to long life and freedom from trauma.

On the other hand, the rates of depression and pessimism have never been higher. It affects middle-aged adults the same way it hits younger people. The mean age of onset has gone from 30 to 15. It is no longer a middle-aged housewife’s disorder but also a teen-ager’s disorder’ as well.

Here’s how optimists are in action and researches that back up why it really pays to be an optimist:

Optimists expect the best

The defining characteristic of pessimists is that they tend to believe bad events, which will last a long time and undermine everything they do, are their own fault.

The truth is optimists are confronted with the same hard knocks of this world. What differs is the way they explain their misfortune—it’s the opposite way. They tend to believe defeat is just a temporary setback, that its causes are confined to this one case.

Optimists tend to focus on and plan for the 'problem' at hand. They use 'positive reinterpretation.' In other words, they most likely reinterpret a negative experience in a way that helps them learn and grow. Such people are unfazed by bad situation, they perceive it is a challenge and try harder.

They won’t say “things will never get better,” “If I failed once, it will happen again” and “If I experience misfortune in one part of my life, then it will happen in my whole life.”

Positive expectancies of optimists also predict better reactions during transitions to new environments, sudden tragedies and unlikely turn of events. If they fall, they will stand up. They see opportunities instead of obstacles.

People respond positively to optimists

Optimists are proactive and less dependent on others for their happiness. They find no need to control or manipulate people. They usually draw people towards them. Their optimistic view of the world can be contagious and influence those they are with.

Optimism seems a socially desirable trait in all communities. Those who share optimism are generally accepted while those who spread gloom, panic and hysteria are treated unfavorably.

In life, these people often win elections; get voted most congenial and sought for advice.

When the going gets tough, optimists get tougher

Optimists typically maintain higher levels of subjective well-being during times of stress than do people who are less optimistic. In contrast, pessimists are likely to react to stressful events by denying that they exist or by avoiding dealing with problems. Pessimists are more likely to quit trying when difficulties arise.

They persevere. They just don’t give up easily, they are also known for their patience. Inching their way a step closer to that goal or elusive dream.

Optimists are healthier and live longer

Medical research has justified that simple pleasures and a positive outlook can cause a measurable increase in the body's ability to fight disease.

Optimists’ health is unusually good. They age well, much freer than most people from the usual physical ills of middle age. And they get to outlive those prone to negative thoughts.

So why not be an optimist today? And think positively towards a more fulfilled life.

Why not look forward to success in all your endeavors? Why not be resilient? Like everybody else you are bound to hit lows sometimes but don’t just stay there. Carry yourself out of the mud and improve your chances of getting back on the right track. And why not inspire others to remove their dark-colored glasses and see life in the bright side?

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