Don't misunderestimate Trump

One thing that's become clear about Trump throughout the campaign and nearing inauguration is that his outbursts and tweets are by design.  Clearly, like a comedian silences hecklers in the audience immediately, Trump takes the same approach with public critics.  Trump seems to follow the George Carlin model of intimidating the heckler into submission.  Use crude, obnoxious language and your broad platform to publicly humiliate the critic.

The language and behavior also violates our cultural norms so deeply that it creates uncertainty and fear.  Trump and his team have become experts at serving up cues to stimulate our collective amygdala.  A frightened populace is much easier to control, almost freely submitting to the authoritarian.  George W. did this with 'Terror Alerts' - Trump is simply finding everyday rhetorical devices to engage our lizard brains.

It's easy to sit back and mock him and ridicule his communication.  To Trump, his critics are wrong about everything, and they may be.  He is playing the long game.  It's how he became PEOTUS.  Keep us in the swamp of uncertainty and fear and present himself as the only answer.

On Being A Patriot (fan)

I have a tortured relationship with the National Football League.  For years I've struggled with the on-field violence; head trauma especially, but there is no shortage of gruesome injuries from the contact of large men running at each other at 15 miles per hour. It can be difficult for me to watch.

This dilemma is compounded by the off-field behavioral problems of more than a handful of young players. These men have been thrown into the spotlight, often at a ridiculously young age, and glorified because of their athletic prowess. It's too common to hear about a player in trouble today - domestic abuse, drugs (particularly PEDs), road rage, gun issues and general mayhem. Whether the cause is environmental, emotional, trauma-induced, or related to drugs and alcohol, there is something about the structure of this violent sport that undrergrids these circumstances.

There is beauty in the sport.  A great catch or brilliant move by a player can be fun to watch and, of course, as a human I like being part of my tribe, rooting for my 'warriors'. It can be very good theater and entertainment.

My struggle has been further compounded by the injection of politics into the sport, particularly the local team, the New England Patriots.  It seems there is a close relationship to president-elect Trump, at least through the owner, Bob Kraft, coach and quarterback. I certainly respect opposing political views but view sports through an entertainment prism - I don't like this development and it would not matter to me one bit if the political affiliation were reversed.

Hyper-partisan politics is seeping into every part of our lives and we need to stop it. It affects how we engage with our friends and families.  It has an impact on where we shop and dine.  It appears that it is even impacting where we choose to live. Sports is an arena that brings our tribe together to root for the home team. It transcends race, ethnicity, gender and most, if not all, of the opposition is in good form - it's about the sport and team.

This could be the straw that breaks me.

Intentional

I'm working on making my life's work intentional. It's not as easy as it sounds.  It involves the hard work of figuring out what you want and why you want it. 

The Robert Fritz model suits me a bit better than the Buddhist tradition though they are not incompatible. For me, Fritz works better because the process is less esoteric, more straight forward.  Using this model, I have identified four fundamental choices and am working on primary and secondary choices that are designed to fulfill the fundamental ones. 

Blogging and writing are primary choices for me. Looking forward to exploring and sharing more of this in the weeks to come.

The Effort

I watched the NE Patriots play the Miami Dolphins last Sunday. The Patriots mostly dominated from start to finish and handily won the game. They are an amazing example of sustained excellence.

I was particularly interested in a newcomer, Michael Floyd, a receiver recently cut by the Arizona Cardinals after a DUI incident. The way the NFL works, players cut during the season are technically waived, which allows teams to 'claim' the player, starting with the lowest ranked (worst) team and moving up in ascending order. At the time that the Patriots claimed Floyd, every other team save one, the Cowboys, had passed on him.

Not surprising, really. DUI is a serious offense and generally signals deeper underlying issues, maybe even addictions.  Add in that Floyd would potentially provide help to just a handful of playoff-bound teams and that he would have a few short weeks to learn enough of the playbook to be a factor, and its more surprising that any team grabbed him. 

The Patriots roll differently. They saw a player with tremendous upside who might be in need of a better situation. The team trusts its veteran players to infuse the new players with the winning culture. They provide the needed resources for players with an imperfect history to make a course correction. The team does not define players by their worst moments. 

I was greatly impressed by newcomer Floyd. He played hard and turned in two exemplary effort plays. One in which he dragged four opposing players into the end zone for a score and another in which he hustled to make a clean, but brutal block to free up his teammate for another score. It was great effort by a player with a second chance. 

Effort is a character-defining trait. Effort does not guarantee success, but indeed, it's the only thing that delivers it. Well done, Michael Floyd. 

You Are Here

I smile whenever I see this phrase on a sign.  Usually provided on a local map of some sort and most notably at a mall or shopping plaza. You are here.  Generally identified by a dot on the map that distinguishes you from being 'there'.

I enjoy the phrase because it can have many different meanings. The obvious, of course, is the geographical here, which is the intention of most of these signs. They are making the case that you simply don't know where you are. In many instances, this is probably true and the sign is most helpful. 

It can also have other meanings. Yes, you can be here physically, or meta-physically. 'You' can refer to you, or us, or to some other person whom we may never know. It is also refers to 'you' in a certain place in time, right now.

It's great that the sign tells you that you are here, in this spot, at this point in time, but leaves the next location to you to decide. Another reminder that life is a series of choices for us, and that while we may not always know where we are in any given moment, we can adapt, re-orient, and move forward toward the destination of our choice. 

It's a good reminder for us. We are always 'here'. Now. Until we're not.

Run For Your Life

Dr. John Ratey has done some interesting work on the brain/body connection. His studies make clear that an active body exercises the brain in significant ways. In fact, he says that our brain evolved to move and without exercise or movement, our brains atrophy. This is a big problem as we age and face difficulties in keeping our bodies in motion.

Ratey also points out that our brains are more effective while we are standing - about 7% more effective.  This is why most presenters stand while giving their presentation even if most are unaware of the impact. 

Ratey cites studies done at poor schools where physical fitness has been given priority.   These schools have experienced significant positive change by introducing a vigorous PE program to start the day. Almost like boot camp activities. Behavioral problems have all but been eliminated, test scores have skyrocketed and obesity problems have been cut to a fraction of the national average.

I've been pretty fortunate over the years. I have a few rusty hinges, but am able to stay very active with a workout regime five days per week. I also have a stand up desk which gives me that 7% edge. Now that I know I have it, I'll have to figure out how to exploit it!

Legacy

I just finished Legacy; What the All Blacks Can Teach Us About the Business of Life.  It's a quick read that provides a bit of insight into one of the most successful teams in the world. The success has been sustained by building so much of what they do into the culture.  Work ethic, honesty before harmony, team, dependability, preparation, commitment, passion, and so much more have become the core of the unit.

I find the difference between what the All Blacks do (or the NE Patriots - so many similarities) and what I do to achieve success to be embarrassing.  The All Blacks play a sport with virtually nothing at stake - it's entertainment for entertainment's sake.  Sure, it's a business and there are fans and money involved, but at the end of the day, there is virtually no value add for the community.  At least that's how I view it.

Contrast that to the labor movement, and specifically our local union.  We are organizing our members, negotiating for contracts that support families and helping to defend workers against an ideology that wants to destroy the voices of collective labor.  Why aren't we approaching our work like the All Blacks?  Why are we not committing to each other like the players do?  Daily preparation, showing up and giving it your all, even when you don't feel like it, because your team is depending on you.

Am I giving it my all?  Am I holding back?  Would my character and determination be enough for the All Blacks?  Am I showing up with my best self every day?  How am I improving - making marginal gains that lead to big improvements?

Albert Schweitzer once wrote; " Example is not the main thing in influencing others.  It's the only thing."  I may not be able to drag people along with me, but I can continue to live and speak into my values.  Those that this inspires will come with me.