Level-UP (2.2)

(FYI: The following is from my book, Level-UP to Professional: Elevate Your Success at Business, Work and Life; The Inspirational Blueprint for Helping Young Professionals With Career-Centric Life Skills. To learn more about my rhymes & reasons for "re-publishing" the book for free on LinkedIn (look for brief sections every Tuesday and Thursday, until complete) - along with an explanation of the book (including fun, toe-tapping videos) - check out, Level-UP (on me).

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ADMISSIONS AND APPRECIATIONS

Why We Do, What We Do

Chapter 1, Section 2

(click here for the previous section)

Speaking of your likeable companions (he writes humbly) — this is probably a good time to give you some more info about myself. After all, it might help to get to know me a little better, so you can feel more comfortable with me, and more confident about what I have to say.

Mostly, I think it’s important to admit what I know, and what I don’t (which is an awful lot) — and why I’m compelled to write this book.

So here goes:

For starters, let’s just say that I’ve had a number of significant experiences in my life so far: great ones, good ones, bad ones and sad ones… and that’s all within my first forty-something years. Like everyone else in this world, I also have much more to learn, and a lot of growing up to do (parents call that “maturing” — whatever).

But that’s all right, because the day we think we know it all, or stop having fun and lose our desire to improve and be much more better…

physically

mentally

emotionally

spiritually

… well, that day shouldn’t happen, because people are never “done.”

And we don’t just improve for our own sake, but on the behalf of all the people who love us, depend on us, or just have to deal with us.

You see, life’s more than a two-way street: it’s a multi-lane highway, with lots of roundabouts and stop lights.

And make no mistake: improving ourselves isn’t always easy.

It’s not.

But what carries us through this constant state of self-improvement, is the recognition that improving ourselves isn’t just about us as individuals; again, it’s also about those who love us, need us, and depend on us. Vise-versa, it’s about those that we love, need, and depend on. Think of that as our,

“Personal Ecosystem”

From a business perspective, I’ve had both failure, and success. I’ve launched several technology companies, and one very hip restaurant. In addition to starting new companies, I’ve also acquired, managed and sold some, as well. Complementing my direct leadership experience, I’ve advised hundreds of organizations, big and small.

But before all of those corporate gigs — during junior high, high school and college — I worked as a busboy, dishwasher, bartender, caddy, waiter, house-painter, janitor, and cook. I also interned, and did paid stints in retail, a newsroom, radio station, warehouse and theatre.

Working and Employment are Good.

(especially the paychecks generated)

Taken together, between my early days and later, I’ve had lots of jobs, and worked with lots of different companies: from small, agile, boot-strapped, super-cool, play-foosball-in-the-office, hi-tech start-ups… to massive, inflexible, not-so-cool, don’t-play-foosball-in-the-office, low-tech conglomerates.

Throughout it all, I’ve been inspired by leaders and tolerated fools; learning commendable attributes from admirable people, and suffering intolerable behavior from unbearable jerks.

Jerks suck. Big time.

Now, from a personal perspective, I’m fortunate to have love in my life, as well as happiness and good health. But in years past, I’ve been miserable and dejected, just like most people, some of the time. I’ve been worth worthless millions (on paper, as they say), and been totally flat broke. There was even a time when I was depressingly alone and afraid, painfully unemployed and sold most of my stuff just to eat.

Bummed and broke isn’t the funnest thing in the world. I know.

Thankfully, after all of that living, I am now a relatively secure and reasonably adjusted man (so says me). I’m blessed to live in a nice town, and in a loving home; with a remarkable wife, two great kids, insatiable dogs, and a lazy frog that I swear will outlive us all. (Heck, it’s starting to sound like a Mellencamp song, albeit a boring one.)

Truly, life’s a blessing: bumps, scrapes, bruises and all.

Life is Good.

To recap: I’ve seen some, done some, won some, lost some.

I’ve experienced the highs and lows of victory and defeat.

That said, I don’t claim to know everything or be perfect in any way — faaarrr from it. Like everyone, I have much more to see, do, learn, love, and improve upon (trust me). And with hard work and God’s good grace, I hope to be given the don’t-ever-take-it-for-granted opportunity to do so.

Now then, while I can’t claim to be an expert in all facets of people, business, work and life — I have seen enough good and bad behavior in all four, to have opinions about what works, and what doesn’t.

Moreover, I’m constantly amazed, baffled and bewildered by how many businesspeople — supposedly even well-educated, experienced and successful ones — don’t seem to get some of the basic and appropriate qualities, attributes and appreciations that it takes to be good businesspeople, with a specific emphasis on the “good people” part.

(That’s not the rule, mind you, but sadly, it’s not uncommon.)

That’s why the world needs you and your peers to be good.

Because you are the next generation of leaders. Eventually and inevitably, you and your generation will be in charge of our businesses, government, environment and the entire planet.

No pressure.

Above and beyond being the boss and ruling the universe… you’re also someone’s child, grandchild and eventually if you so choose (if you’re not already), you might even be someone’s parent. That’s when you’ll understand my motivation, and that of other parents.

It’s true.

You see, most parents want their children to be safe and happy — ready, willing and able to handle all that life has to dish out. And life as we know it, is truly a magnificent, glorious and bountiful feast… even though it’s often messy, and at times, can require lots of napkins (and maybe even some hefty paper towels, for those extra sloppy moments).

Now unfortunately, while most parents want what’s best for their kids, they may not always say it, show it, or act like it. One of the problems is that some parents over-praise and over-pacify (aka “spoil”), which on the surface might not seem like a big deal… but over time, can set the kids up for a tougher transition, when they go to make it on their own.

Can you say problem?

This type of coddling can lead to the “Stuart Smalley” factor. (FYI: Stuart Smalley was a goofy character played by Senator Al Franken, back in his Saturday Night Live days). In the skit, Smalley used the self-affirmation, “Because I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggonit, people like me.” But in reality, it wasn’t true. He wasn’t good enough, he wasn’t smart enough, and no, most people didn’t like him.

And why?

Because he needed coddling. And my bet is, his parents had something to do with his situation. (Yeah I know, it was just a funny SNL skit, but what the heck, I’m using it anyway to make an example. I think.)

Worse than coddling and good intentions gone awry, some bad parents condone, propagate and administer the disappointing attitude that the heavy metal band Korn (yeah, I had my long-hair, head-banger days) rallied against in one of its songs when they wondered, and justifiably so, why a parent would ever make their own child feel like a “nobody.”

Regrettably, that does happen too. And that’s a big-time shame.

The biggest big-time shame, however, is that there are some nefarious parents and predatory adults, who are abusive and downright criminal in their treatment of children. As shocking as those sins are to think about or comprehend, it does unfortunately happen. All we can hope is that the children who are physically and emotionally abused can get out of that situation to find peace and happiness. Personally, I believe the abused get extra credit in heaven. Conversely, I believe the inexcusable deviants that do the abusing, get appropriately and disproportionately punished on this earth, and after they leave it. Good riddance.

Thankfully however, abusive parents and reprehensible adults, are in the extreme minority. They really are. The majority of us… even the absent, neglectful and incarcerated… love and appreciate our children.

It’s in our DNA.

And you can’t change DNA.

But as parents, we know that we won’t always be there to guide and protect you, especially now, as a working adult. That’s why you need to do what you need to do; be your own person; make your own way.

In fact, that’s a lot of what being a responsible, personally accountable professional adult is all about… assuming you choose to be one.

You do, don’t you?

(sure you do)

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(That concludes Chapter One. Chapter 2, Section 1 will be on Tuesday, 12/27. BTW: if you enjoy this post/posts - please follow, like and share (oh yeah, the entire book is available on Amazon, in paperback and Kindle.) In addition, please join Level-UP on Facebook and let's connect on Twitter @scottabbottabc. Cool? Thx.)