Think Big!

This one comes to you from several different angles. First, as my friends Jessica and Phil Almeida were visiting from NJ this past weekend, I got into a conversation on our drive down to Columbia, SC for dinner with some mutual friends. Phil and I were talking about what cars we like and what we want. We started talking about the advances that some of the cars had made in terms of MPG's and the desire for other cars to catch up. I made the comment that I wondered when we'll finally get a car that can drive us. Mercedes has a car that will stop itself. Infinity has cars that tell you when you are getting too close to the middle or side lines. Several companies have cars that will parallel park themselves. It's only a matter of time!!!

Phil asked if I had ever been to www.TED.com? I told him I had not and I didn't know what is was about. Phil went on to tell me about TED and how it's dedicated to telling everyone about new and potentially world changing ideas. To the topic at hand, he said he had seen a video by Bill Ford discussing the future of cars and how they will talk to each other. Cars will one day, be able to tell you when to change directions to avoid traffic. They will be able to secure parking spaces for you while you are in route to your destination. They will have the technology to talk to each other. One step closer to driving us!

The Operations team at my office has a meeting once a month to think of the big changes they want to make. Not just changing of documents or updates to language on our website, but how can they make the client experience better? How can they process 4 or even 5 times the amount of business without adding a lot of staff? How can they change the way the financial services industry process business?

What ideas can we think up that will address the big issues that are important to you or your business? How can we collaborate with each other to bring our expertise to bear on these issues? I hope that this will inspire some big thinking that may be able spark an idea that will lead to some future change to an issue that you believe in and are passionate about. Watch the Bill Ford video on TED.com and the other videos they have that talk about the big ideas that should be shared. Talk to your friends about those ideas and collaborate with them. Think Big!!

The Twenty-somethings (+/- some years) Have It Going On

As I realize that the bulk of the people who read my article will fall within the twenty-something age range, I thought we could use a good ole pat on the back. This article by Art Hotz reiterates why we work hard and then play hard! This is not to say that the veterans of the work force are not excellent workers, but sometimes you have to take some credit ;) Take 5 minutes and read Art's article "The Kids Are Alright".

This One is for Laughs

Good Morning and Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there!

As part of my firms goal to create an exceptional experience for our clients, we are looking at ways to make our website a place where people want to come and "hang out". One program we are considering adding provides links to funny or entertaining videos, stories, jokes etc. On of the links it suggested was one for the Hawaii Chair. This has to be one of the most ridiculous and absurdly funny infomercials I have ever seen. I hope it gives you a little chuckle.

I hope to add value

Greetings!!!!

Today I kick off a new blog that I hope you will find useful. This blog isn't designed to rant or just espouse my view on the topics of the day. I hope that I will offer some tidd bits of information or ideas that you will find helpful, funny and will add value to your life in some way.

I am not so delusional to believe that everything that I will offer here will help every person every time. I do hope that once in a while, I can help to make your life better, even if it's a 3 second laugh.

My first attempt to add value is to recommend that you read the book:

Little Black Book of connections: 6.5 Assets for Networking Your Way to rich Relationships by Jeffrey Gitomer.

This book is actually the inspiration for this blog. Jeffrey offers some great tips for making connections and building strong relationships. Quick summary for those of you who don't want to or don't like to read; the key is to add value first to those who you meet and it will come back to you, kinda like Karma. He gives some great specific ways to do this and keeps it fun. It's a quick read and available on the Kindle.

[Side bar: If you don't have a Kindle, it's well worth the money! Leslie, my beautiful wife, and I both have one and we take it to the pool every time we go. Books are generally cheaper here too since there is not all the cost of printing, storage and shipping. The $114 Kindle works great. The only difference is that it has some ads on the screen savers as opposed to art.]

Back to the book. If you plan to move up in your career or want to get to know someone who you think can help you in the future, this book is for you. I also have to give kudos to my friend and advisor Todd Blackwell for giving me this book to read in the first place.

So, I hope that you found my first attempt at adding value to have done that. If not, don't give up on me yet ;) I'll be posting every week or so. I hope you can expect a healthy balance of useful ideas, funny clips or even a recipe or two. If you have an idea you'd like me to share with the group, please email me and I'll we'll get it out. I welcome your feed back so that I can make this better and more useful for you.

Have a great week!!!!!

Brad