I’m a fan of art. I’m also a fan of good music. Never in my life have I seen both come together in a more perfect way. May you enjoy this delicious morsel and may you share it with the world as it so deserves.
Big thanks to my boys at The Occidental Salloon (formerly Provo Acoustic Sessions) for your pure awesomeness.
“…What we love determines what we seek.
What we seek determines what we think and do.
What we think and do determines who we are—and who we will become.”
Sometimes becoming a good person isn’t about giving things up, or weeding the bad out of our lives. More often than not it’s about what we refuse to give up.
The world frequently tells us we need to give up things to be become better. Rarely do we realize that it’s the things we should never give up that sets us apart from everyone else. It’s the deep-seeded values, entrenched in our hearts that make us who we really are.
The things that you hold dear determine what you become.
It’s my birthday.
I’m not a big fan of gifts or attention, but I figured I get one day a year where it’s 100% justified that I steal the show, I might as well take advantage of it.
If you consider yourself my friend, I want you to get me a gift… only not that type of gift. Sometime in the next week, reach out and do something for someone. Lend a hand. Do a favor. Pay it forward. Do some good on my behalf to someone in need and then let me know what you did in the comments section. I’d really like that.
Thanks for humoring me! Happy Birthday to me!
Dear Baby Boomers,
I’ve heard you talking. You’re scared.
You hate my generation.
You look around at us, and all you see is a group of semi-literate, Ritalin addicts who can’t put down their phones long enough to participate in a face to face conversation consisting of anything more than 140 characters. We possess no work ethic, and we get all of our news from Comedy Central. Our overwhelming sense of entitlement drives you insane, and our credit scores make you shake your head in shame.
You’ve talked it over on the golf green with your overpaid, corporate executive friends. You’ve all decided that a future of Facebook addicted, text messaging hipsters whose video gaming has all but obliterated their social skills is bleak and far from promising.
You laugh at our ideas.
You laugh at our lifestyle.
You hate our music.
You hate our clothes.
You refuse see our worth.
The future you see us creating is anything but ideal.
Now, let’s be honest. The future you’re so scared we’re going to ruin… it’s really not you’re future, is it? You won’t be around to live it, will you?
I will.
And I’m here to tell you that your hope-deprived and faithless views of the iPod generation is wrong. We are strong. We are open minded. We are creators, artists and geniuses.
We have the courage to look at the traditional 40 hour work week, the educational system, Social Security and fossil fuels and admit that we’re doing it wrong. We have the capacity to demand change and to make a difference. We aren’t afraid to negotiate and compromise to make a better world for each other.
We are adapters. We are fixers. We are inventors. We are risk takers.
I look at the old world you cling to so desperately and I see what it can become if you would just open your eyes and trust my vision of the future. Our youth does not equate to stupidity. Our inexperience does not imply a monopoly of good ideas – or right ideas for that matter – on your part.
We are the movers and shakers. We are the generation who is going to save the world you have left in ruins. Remember (if you can) your early twenties. For you to get where you are today, somebody had to give you a chance. Somebody had to see potential in this poor, disenchanted, wannabe-world-changer from the upcoming rebel generation. They saw something in you, and they gave you a shot. Without them, you wouldn’t be where you are today…
Now look at me.
I’m not going to sit around and wait for you to hand me my chance. If you don’t have the vision to see the incredible tapestry we’re weaving, then get out of the picture, or we’ll cut you out.
I am not weak. I am not stupid. And I’m going to take over your company, your industry and your world whether you like it or not. Pick a side… but pick wisely.
Sincerely yours,
Generation Next
Leadership seems to be the topic of the month.
It’s been coming up in classes, books, presentations and conversations. I can’t escape it. It’s following me.
Last week I was able to attend a UVU Networking night, hosted by the Alumni Association of my alma mater. Bruce Jackson, Director of the Center for the Advancement of Leadership presented.
He pointed out that our country is in the middle of yet another crisis, aside from health care, the economy and global warming. This crisis is that of trust in their leaders. We don’t trust politicians, Wall Street and we certainly don’t trust the news. It’s a truly scary world when you really can’t trust anyone to just tell it to you straight. It seems like the only time people are honest is when they’re caught in the act of being dishonest.
But then, if these people aren’t behaving with integrity, they’re really not leaders, are they?
Our society has a skewed perception of leadership. People aspire to titles of leadership with the false idea that the title makes the man. They strive to become managers and directors and presidents. The title, however, is empty without the character to back it up.
Managers 
Leaders
Managers < Leaders
The true leaders, I’ve found, are those without the title. They influence change with strong moral character, hard work and determination. They have integrity. They generously give others credit where credit is due, and inspire others to reach their best potential.
Managers, on the other hand, don’t always have these qualities. All too often they have their position because of seniority, not their capacity to lead. They often rule by fear, using negative extrinsic and intrinsic motivators. They are close minded. They obsess over procedures and rules, and care about the team’s success only because it reflects on their personal image.
Remember, anyone can be a leader. Anyone can be an influence for change. What are you willing to do outside of your job description to help others? What value and ideas are you supporting both through your actions and your interactions with others?
I’m writing this post partly for me, but mostly for someone else.
Part of me thinks I shouldn’t write this, because making my personal life fairly public can risky. The last thing I want is a bunch of pity comments from people trying to sympathize with a situation they know nothing about. (That’s why comments have been disabled.) However, I know that someone needs to hear this.
At the moment, I need to come to grips with a tidal wave of experiences and emotions that have slammed me in the heart over the past day or so.
If you’re familiar with Abraham of the Bible, you know he was an old dude. He was also promised that he’d have posterity. Lots and lots of posterity. I’m sure that as the years passed by and there were no children, Abraham started to wonder whether or not he was going to get that one thing that he most desired… a son. He struggled. He wavered. And finally, when it was announced that his wife would bear a child, he doubted.
I can only imagine his joy when he finally came to grips with reality. He really was going to have that one thing he always wanted! Isaac was born, and Abraham was happy…
Until one day when Abraham got a message. A really crappy message. Abraham had to destroy the one thing that he held more dear than anything else. He was commanded to kill Isaac. He literally had to kill the one son who was the absolute key to the fulfillment of so many promises and so much happiness.
The request to sacrifice is not uncommon in scripture. This particular sacrifice though, I think, is on a whole different scale of significance. He was asked to sacrifice his only son, and for reasons he did not understand.
The surprising thing? He did it…
He could have disobeyed. He could have ignored the messages and promptings he’d received to do this unbearable thing. But instead, he packed up his son, put him on an altar, and had every intention of completing the sacrifice until an angel stayed his hand.
I never understood the significance of this story.
Sacrificing the thing you love most in this world because of your faith in God seems cruel. I can tell you now that it also feels unnaturally painful and harsh. The unanswered questions, the overwhelming emotions, the emptiness and the longing for something you know you can’t have… it’s the closest thing I’ve experienced to unbearable in my life.
It’s not easy. It’s at a Crap level of infinity.
My hope is that, like Abraham, the promises made will be fulfilled, and that one day peace and happiness will return… and not just for me.
Beyond this whole vague personal trial of Abraham, my heart goes out to my dear Chilean friends and family. I hope so much that you are all alive and safe.
Through the years, this blog has been used for many things. I’ve written music reviews, movie reviews, restaurant reviews and yes, even date reviews. I’ve written about my personal frustrations, inner struggles and personal life. I’ve documented goals shared things that have made me laugh and yes, I’ve even succumbed to stereotypical blogger stigma and written my fair share of rants and raves, shaking my digital fists at the heavens in frustration of things I had little to no influence over.
Those of you who follow this blog have probably already noticed that the tone has changed a bit over the past few weeks. I think it’s time to open yet another chapter for the Big Bags blog. I have decided to feature stories and experiences I’m having (and have had) with the inspiring people I come in contact with in my life.
I hope you can glean something meaningful from the experiences that are helping to shape me into who I am. Thanks for reading. Really.
Now, go be great.
Today in my PR Capstone class, I got to hear from Malcolm Atherton, Account Executive & New Media Specialist at Business Wire.
Malcolm was kind enough to sacrifice his time to come and present on the nitty gritties of Business Wire’s press distribution services coupled with some great PR advice. The man obviously knows his stuff… especially when it comes to the integration of new media with old school PR tactics.
What inspired me to write this post, however, was not so much is presentation so much as it was the answer he provided to one of my follow up questions.
I asked him what one tool or skill we should learn or develop as students that would benefit us most in the professional world. I was expecting him to talk about developing good writing skills, or staying current with new technologies… some sort of typical, canned answer. I was shocked, however, when he said, “You need to learn how to build relationships and connect with people.”
What?!
In a world where people walk around with their eyes glued to their phones – a world where communication revolves around Facebook stalking, emails and Twitter – learning to make connections and forge meaningful relaionships with people is the key to success?
I was both shocked and awed.
The truthiness of Malcolm’s statement resonated with me. As much as corporate America would have us believe that success is all about the numbers, analyitcs and facts, I am a believer that relationships (meaningful relationships) are what carry us through life. They provide us with a higher level of personal and job satisfaction. They create value. They are the foundation of real happiness.
I guess what it all boils down to is that it’s really not all about what you know, it’s about who you know… and how you treat them.
Best. Advice. Ever.
Last Friday I had the opportunity of meeting (and listening to) Seth Godin.
As expected, his presentation was amazing. Details to come.
I’m watching the Olympics as I write this post. I love the Olympics. I love them because all of the athletes who attends have something in common, regardless of the sport they participate in. They are extraordinary.
I love extraordinary people.
It’s funny, there are so many people out there competing for average. Some people are satisfied with being good. Others are happy to just get their name in the paper. Some strive to be the best in their nation, or wave the banner of their flag in front of the world. But few, a very select few, strive to be the best. Extraordinary.
It’s hard, yes. But what’s interesting is the incredibly small percentage of people who even consider extraordinary. Aiming for extraordinary doesn’t even cross their minds.
The competition for mediocrity is fierce. All but a select few are competitors. Extraordinary, however, requires dedication and effort, but more often than not, the biggest competition is yourself.
Who are you competing against?
P.S. I’ve been writing up a storm lately. If you want to have a look at my dating advice blog or some good Utah restaurant reviews, just click the links. Thanks for your support everyone!
