Editorial cartoon

We need more holistic thinking in regard to cause and effect. Our short sighted mindset always seems to bites us in ass at every level of our egsistance. The cycle needs to be broken.

Malala Yousafzai Courage

I have a 9 year old daughter with access to an education. I want her to know who Malala Yousafzai is. She is the sister of all children and daughter to all mankind. The attack on her is symbolic of our failure. She reminds us that it takes courage to be free.

Creative maturity: managing your ego

Much of our lives are spent analyzing things like the environment, politics, society, economics, art, parenting, crime, war, religion, etc. The list could go on forever. But one vital thing we tend to forget to do is to acknowledge our own ego amidst our day-to-day lives. It is our ego that motivates most of our decisions and drives us into any given direction.

Working in business, we are inundated with problems daily, whether it be operational issues, human resource challenges, customer concerns and more. To succeed in business, one must be a problem solver. However, one of the main obstacles in developing your own ability to be that problem solver is oftentimes our inability to set our own perspective and needs aside. That’s because, more often than not, many professionals have the need to be perceived as a problem solver, but that desire overrides actually being a problem solver.

There are solutions.

We must always understand that the choices we make require analytical thinking with emotional tempering. Not the other way around. Ego is a good motivator but a terrible problem solver. Simply put, learning to manage your own ego is what separates the professionals from the wannabes. Creative confidence is shown not by those professionals who say they have the best ideas, but by those who showcase their ability to be flexible, responsive and nurturing of any good idea regardless of its origin or where that idea is headed at any given moment.

It takes a talented professional to set their ego aside and immediately listen to, discuss, address and solve problems on the spot, all the while knowing they may not have all of the right answers just then. Addressing challenges or opportunities in this manner can be difficult for some to do, impossible for others. But, as I mentioned, this ability separates the pros from the amateurs.

Compromise requires sacrifice. Sacrifice requires humility. Humility requires confidence. Confidence comes from creative maturity.

Creative maturity may seem like a contradiction in terms, but it is an absolute must when the goal is to produce the best solution possible for any situation. The dichotomy of exploring your options and ideas with a free and open mind while limiting your ego analytically isn’t always easy, but it is possible.

For those looking to further their own development in this area, the first step is to set aside the egotistical need to be “right” and instead learn how to trust others – and yourself. This means allowing yourself to be open to impromptu discussions, to step outside of your area of expertise and provide your thoughts (they do matter), to feel confident in the fact that you do have something to contribute and that your opinion is valuable. I encourage you to put yourself and your ideas on the line, especially during those instances where there is no time to prepare. You’ll be surprised at what you’re already capable of doing. For the no-holds-bar always idea making, problem solving machines of the world, who typically already have a highly developed sense of troubleshooting needs, I say it’s okay to take a backseat at times when you’re around others who are new to this creative maturation process. Allow them to venture out, learn and come to trust more in their own abilities and the concept that there is always more than one solution to any given problem. In doing so, it will help build their confidence.

Managing your ego is difficult to do and, as a business owner myself, it’s absolutely critical that everyone on my team is able to creatively mature. Without a proper balance of overall maturation, business doesn’t work. The environment naturally segments itself into “control freaks” (who become resentful and frustrated) and “wannabes” (who begin to create their own self-imposed walls the hinder their own progress and growth).

An efficient and effective way to reach the best solution in the shortest amount of time is to commit to muting our emotional needs to be right and realize that this sacrifice is required for the best solution. One does not feed the other.

Sunset moment.

When  Debi and I first started dating we'd love to watch the sunset. Those moments became symbolic in our lives. Whenever something great happened we'd call it a "sunset moment." We've been married 16 years now and we spend every anniversary in the same place. Crystal Pier Hotel in San Diego. 9 years ago my daughter Elli began joining us on these annual getaways. This year I was at the beach with her again, playing in the waves and building sandcastles. I paused and noticed the amazing sunset and mentioned it to her. She looked up and smiled at me as if to say "Got it, it's the sun. Thanks Dad." I tried to explain how amazing it looked and how beautiful the light reflecting off the wet sand was but it was pointless. She was dragging a piece of sea weed across the sand and drawing Homer Simpson with it. She didn't have time for my sentimental notions. But it came to me the next day that the sunset moment was mine. It wasn't her moment to notice. She in fact was my sunset moment. I may as well have been asking the ocean to take notice of the stars. She at that moment was a big reason I was taking it all in. In time she will develop her own sunset moments. I am lucky to have Debi and Elli with me during my time on the planet. I'm glad I let those sunsets sneak in and remind me.

Okay, here's a thought.

Okay, here's a thought. Regardless of the outcome of our presidential election it's time for this nation to become great again in spite of its government. The greatness of this nation never came from its government, it came from its people. Government is not a source of wisdom. It's a system of control. People think the only thing they need to do to deserve the privilege of being an American citizen is vote. It's not. You need to CONTRIBUTE! Work hard, educate your kids, support your community, give to charity, build something! If you become a success it's not because of who you elected. It's because you worked your ass off. Or because someone successful gave you a leg up in some way and then you worked your ass off. Pay your taxes. Put your money in American banks. Hire American!!! It's up to you to give back and lead by example. Don't be so dependent on party. Obama and Romney can not save us. YOU save you and WE save us. So everyone lighten up. Be good to each other and don't forget to vote.

Malala Yousafzai Courage

Our public libraries are a symbol of American civility

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Public libraries were born from the ideals expressed in our Declaration of Independence. Simply put, a public library exists to serve the public’s interest. It gives anyone with a willingness to learn the chance to do so. It is a symbol of American civility, the boot strap that facilitates literacy and enables intellectual growth and progression within a community. It is the most prolific source of nutrients for a hungry and curious mind. A person of any age, race, culture or creed can wander freely into a public library and find inspiration to satisfy his or her curiosity and better their standing in life. The public library is a uniquely American invention molded from American values and philosophies. 

Since its inception in 1833, the American public library’s prime directive has been to provide communities with easy access to educational materials and resources. As Americans, we understand that those on the front lines sustaining our democracy and protecting our innovation as a civilized society are well informed. In recent news a 14-year-old Pakistani girl was shot because she wanted access to knowledge. Our forefathers understood that offering free access to knowledge was satisfying deep moral and intellectual needs required in a civilized society. 

Our dependence on government has been a point of contention in the last decade, and somehow libraries have been lumped into that argument. Somehow some of us have forgotten that public libraries are not a problem of government dependence, they are the solution. So say no to inefficiency. Say no to corruption. Say no to waste. But say yes to a public resource that gives back more abundantly than we give to it. Say yes to a public resource that has done nothing but say yes to the citizens of this city since it opened its doors. It is now our chance as Americans to stand up and be counted. Please vote yes on November 6th on Henderson Libraries Question 1.

For more information about the Henderson Library Question 1 tax initiative visit the website here

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