Success Starts Here!

I met a man this week who asked me a simple question. Upon our introduction, he asked me what I did. Of course I knew his question referred to what my career was. I find it interesting that in Western culture, when we meet someone, our first question is very regularly "and what do you do?" In this part of the world, we are defined by how we make a living. In many respects it dictates our social circles, our activities, sometimes even our actual identity. Of course some jobs are in many ways lifestyles. For example, a doctor is a doctor 24 hours a day. If he's in a restaurant and someone is choking to death, he surely can't (or at least shouldn't) say "well I'm off duty so it isn't my problem." More than likely, the doctor would jump out of his chair and try to save the person. Similarly, other professions don't stop when you clock out for the day. But I think in the western world we tend to use our professions as an excuse to not develop ou

Hey brother, been thinking about you this weekend. Yeah yeah, whatever man. I know I'm Mr. Sentimental. But you know it is Memorial Day. The last few days I've seen some photos and posts that would make you laugh a little. I always loved how you never took yourself too seriously. Hell, we both acted more like high school sophomores than grown adults. But you had a wisdom in your youth. I remember you watching some irate politician on TV talking about how this was a "somber" weekend and how we should all just sit around and think of our dead and you told me "If I die Jose, you better enjoy every damn day you have off for the both of us. None of this crying and feeling sad shit." I remember you thought it was ridiculous that our American citizens should not enjoy the blanket of freedom paid for by our war dead. To be honest, I don't think you cared if any of them knew who you were. You weren't in this to be "honored." You were in this to ho

I am so blessed to share my life with an incredible group of close friends and family as well as supportive colleagues and even positive acquaintances. Most of the people I associate with I not only care about but admire. Some of them I even consider "great." They may not consider themselves that way, but per my definition of greatness they are truly legendary. I find the people I have the most respect for are those who have had to fight for their lot in life; people who've had life sucker punch them to their knees and yet somehow they mustered up the courage to get back up as if saying "is that all you've got?" I've got friends like my cousin Carmen, who as a teenage mother decided she would take responsibility for herself and become the kind of woman and mother worthy of respect. Not only is she a college graduate today, but a loving mother and wife, and successful businesswoman. She is active in her church and community supporting those who are whe