Boomer Business Brain Drain...

We all know and hear from all sources that starting your own business is hard. “If it was easy...everyone would do it!” We still never know how hot the stove is until we touch it. Yes, I have touched the stove and yes... it is very hot! I get it. I knew it was going to be and I also knew that due to choosing a business that was a core passion of mine, was THE thing that was going to give me the strength to get through the hard stuff.

There is another aspect to this journey and that is those “passing moments”! We cannot get so absorbed in fixing all of the issues we face in life that we go past these wonderful, blessed moments without enjoying them! For me, that means doing something that is logic brain free. In that, I mean anything that totally distracts my thinking from my daily thoughts of the business. Personally, this is usually some mindless entertainment on TV or at the movies. This merely serves as a “slap of cold water in my face” as it stops me from thinking about the hard stuff. I am then able to purposely focus my thinking on all of the blessings and positive things in my life.

Most of the time in our lives, we can choose how we feel...happy or sad. Sometimes, something as simple as purposely smiling, for no reason, to myself, will snap me out of feeling worried about something. It is an amazing thing...try it sometime! People and situations affect us every day of our lives, but it is how we choose to react to these situations that guides how we feel. This is more easily said than done, many times, but we can choose how we feel, eventually.

Some times, events occur that are more devastating and physically disastrous and none of us know how we will react in these situations, until we actually go through them. Usually time is the determining factor in how we end up feeling with these types of situations. Time allows or helps us eventually determine how we need to think about these more difficult decisions, but in the end, it again, is how we choose to react that determines our outcome.

So, as I know I will continue to face issues that I need to correct and deal with in my start up business, I will continue to give myself that slap in the face with cold water, force that smile, watch some TV Land reruns of the Dick Van Dike show, and remind myself....”enjoy this moment, look at a blue sky, some green trees, listen to some inspiring music, but realize all the many blessings I have....in this moment”!

Just last week, I only dream’d of being an on-tra-pra-nor....now I R one!

 

I have been talking about starting my own small business for so long, that it was starting to feel like that’s actually what I do....”talk about it”. I finally received the funds I need and signed a three year lease on a space in a shopping plaza.... ME!!!!!.... owning a business in one of dem’ dere’ shopping plazas, that I always drive by and get my hair cut and by a burger, or a D.Q..... I have to say...it was an out-of-body experience driving down to the owners office and signing that lease. I still feel like I’m dreaming. I can only image what I will feel like when I see construction going on and watch this creation come to life. It is all exciting and all scary at the same time!

The journey that has led me to this point is one of exploration, asking questions, and getting a HELL of a lot of wonderful, experienced people to help me find my way through the weeds and help me find the path. I have been creating a L-O-N-G list of these people to thank for walking me here, to where I am now. In the end, I realize that I have done some things that I look back on and am amazed! Who is that man behind that curtain?.... ME, that’s who!

Almost one year ago, in August of 2009, I enrolled in a Community College course, “How to Start a Small Business”, which was a six week course of a lot of information and a general teaching of how to start and a lot of resources to start investigating. It was a great way to begin my journey. Although I had already formulated my business idea before the course began, it made me aware that I have committed myself to this journey...I spent some money and placed my first baby-step forward. The biggest thing I learned from the course was how only through my passion and persistence to work through any and all obstacles, would this ever become a reality. Many a day over the last year, I have woken in the middle of the night, wondering “what in the hell am I thinking?... this isn’t something that I WOULD DO!!!”. Each and every time I have said that to myself, in a manner of speaking, I slap myself in the face to awake from that self doubting nightmare. It’s the same nightmare I have been waking from all of my life, but NO MORE! NO MORE will I listen to that self doubting inner voice that has held me back for over 50 years! At the age of 58, as I look back at many things I have accomplished, many of them in just the last decade or so, I come to a realization that I can do achieve a goal, IF, and ONLY IF, it is a true passion and ONLY IF I don’t stop moving toward the goal. Obstacles are only learning experiences and things to work out, work around and move aside, and most importantly....remember and learn from.

There is so much more to do to make this dream real and even more importantly, successful, and I know there will be many more mistakes and lessons learned, but I will always remember to push the negativity aside, look for a solution and keep moving forward. The first payback will be seeing my goals become real. The ongoing payback will be proving that I was correct in thinking that I can do great things. The most important payback will be waking up each day and looking forward to doing something that I absolutely love! Everything beyond that is all gravy!

Baby "Boomer" Steps!

Sometimes you can find yourself so overwhelmed with what you want to do, what you need to do, what someone wants you to do and what you actually DO! I can get so blogged down with goals, daily tasks, chores, income and bill worries, job loss, retirement, aging parents, career changes, health issues, what to eat and not eat that I just sit and want to do NOTHING!!! The problem with that is, that I just sit and think even more about all of those things. You can delay or put the “stuff” in the back of your mind by watching some mindless comedy on TV or listening to some good music, but they’re still there, waiting to come to your attention again, or even worse, they can cause physical health issues even while in the back of your mind as stress.

The book, “The Power of Now” speaks to how we all do this thinking about anything and everything and how we create our own pain. Now I can make myself aware of the fact that I need to take one thing at a time, or at least only a few things at a time. Remember the movie, “What About Bob”?, one of my favorites! In it, the phycologist, Dr. Leo Marvin writes a book called “Baby Steps”, which Bob, who is a total wreck of a human who fears so many things, he thinks his bladder may suddenly explode, learns from the book, to take Baby Steps, and it makes him feel better. This is what we all need to do, take Baby "Boomer" Steps in our lives. A friend and fellow blogger has a great site called Think Simple Now where she has some wonderful insights and information about becoming aware of your life and looking at it in a more relaxed and simplistic way. Give it a read for some great advice from a personal perspective.

I found myself becoming “overwhelmed” today and just had to start writing about it and that helped me put things in a light where I was able to stop and assess what was on my mind. Sometimes when you feel stressed, go for a walk or write your feelings down in your journal, or just on some paper or a document on your computer. It will help you calm down and realize that you can not do everything nor please everyone at once. No one is that good!

These current troubling times, with our world in political turmoil, global economic crisis and global warming, it is very easy to become depressed...in fact, we would not be human if we didn’t let all of these issues get us down. When I think of how easy it is to let everything bother me, sometimes I think of President Obama and I wonder how is he capable of thinking about the global issues he is involved in every hour of the day, when he knows that literally, millions of people are looking to him for answers. He seems to have an uncanny character trait where he looks at issues on his plate, assigns priority to them and then spends his day with seemingly boundless energy, working on and delegating others to also work on those issues and then just go have dinner with his children or attend some other affair. He is obviously very much in control of knowing his capabilities as well as his limits and the assurance that as long as he is working and trying his best...well then, that’s the most he can do. This is a great way to look at life. It’s a method of “Baby Steps”. Baby steps do not necessarily mean menial tasks, they each can be huge, but the importance is in the way we work on them...with passion and method toward a goal and a realization of our limits as well.

I have to say that writing this article has indeed made me feel a LOT better! I highly suggest writing down your thoughts to help you work through a problem. Even though all the things that were on my mind are still there, I have gained the insight that I can not do them all immediately and as long as I don’t ignore them completely, I get them done, as best as I can!

Also remember that taking a day or an hour or a nap are not bad ideas either. They have their merit and are indeed no less important. The other day I asked my daughter what she was doing for the day at college and she replied nothing much really! As a parent, this could mean that someone is not taking their studies seriously enough.... or it could mean that they just need to do exactly that....relax! I know the character of my daughter and I know how I have allowed myself to become lost in my endeavors and became a more stressed type of a person, so I am always careful to remind first myself...and then her that “nothing really” is a good thing to do as well!

Stop for a Few Moments....and appreciate the moment!

(Picture from ArtofLiving.com)

I was watching an episode of one of my most favorite family television shows, “Home Improvement”, and as that show did on occasion, it would go though an event that the couple, Tim and Jill, was arguing about, only to compromise, understand and say they were sorry in the end. Then the show would end with them telling each other how much they loved each other...and dance together to a romantic song like, “When I Fall in Love”, sung by Nat King Cole. Being a musician, the first thing I thought of was that that song playing at that moment made that scene!!! Music does so much to heighten our emotions. What would the world be like without music and laughter?

This episode had a couple of older men who were friends of Tim Taylor (Tim Allen) and one of them, played perfectly by Ernest Borgnine, told Tim about appreciating each other and not to try to “understand” how each other acts all the time, but to just appreciate and love the moments that you have together, as one day they will be gone.

This episode just made me think about how we all face so many situations in our lives that we get caught up in, thinking about and worrying about. We think of our jobs and how can we become more successful in them. We think and worry about paying the bills, keeping the house clean, will our children do the right things in life, will we be able to enjoy retirement, you name it and we spend SO much of our lives worrying about these things. Currently, as I am trying to find a way to make my love of music the thing that I do from this point on in my life as a career and wonder if I will be able to earn enough income to keep our current home, I find that although I am totally enjoying each day working at my music, I still worry if it will provide for us.

Watching the older man talk about how he appreciates the time he had with his wife, who was now gone, it just made me realize how important each moment of our lives is and how we can NOT afford to waist a moment of it! The older we get, the more we realize how special each moment is and when you think about those “wonderful, special” moments with the ones we love....there is nothing else like that feeling and how blessed we are during those moments.

I guess what I am saying is... take some time each day and stop thinking about all of the crap that is going on inside your head. If you can possibly make it happen, get the person you are the closest to and tell them to stop for a moment with you and think about JUST BEING TOGETHER.... While you do that, don’t forget to play that music that is special to both of you. IT WILL MAKE IT ALL THE MORE SPECIAL!

I think about my mother who is 90 years old now and confused and living in a nursing home with only what memories she has left, if any, due to Alzheimer's Disease, and it makes me both sad and yet, so much more KNOWING that THIS moment, and those other moments when we stop and just be with the ones you love are the ONLY reasons for being here, whether it be with your spouse, your parent, your child or just a friend.

Take a few moments....TODAY....and a few EVERY DAY...and SMILE, ENJOY and REMEMBER!

The Holiday Gift of Less Stress - Alpha Consumer (usnews.com)

The Holiday Gift of Less Stress - Alpha Consumer (usnews.com)

What a GREAT idea! Think of ways to make this Holiday season less stressful! Look for more meaningful, smaller gifts. Perhaps you can order gifts more on-line and do less driving, save on gasoline and the grief of overcrowded malls and looking for parking places. On-line shopping has grown more successful each year, so with the economy crisis, we can plan better and buy less expensive gifts via the web...after all, it really IS the thought that counts!

This is also the perfect way for me to give a shameless plug for my CD of original music for relaxation and relieving stress. "Thoughts of Home" is a perfect gift for anyone who needs a break from our daily hectic times.

( You can purchase at this link: David Lindberg Music or on iTunes & CD Baby on the right side column )


During our current times of 401k's dwindling, job layoffs, election campaign burnout, job hunting, on and on....take a break...turn off the TV, take the phone off the hook, close the computer, get a cup of hot tea or coffee, put your feet up, and listen to "Thought of Home" take you to peaceful settings of nature such as a remote waterfall, peaceful shoreline or a calming rain blended with the perfect music. Guaranteed to instantly calm your mind and body!

20 Ways to Attack Shyness

Here's a good article by my friend Tina Su at ThinkSimpleNow.com

Can you remember wanting to ask someone out, but was too shy to do so? Here are 20 ways on how to overcome this shyness.Get off your computers and get practicing!

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just good Common Sense....

I have always known that one of my best gifts is common sense and the awareness that I have everything to learn yet in my life. I sometimes feel as though I understand how certain people seem to be able to see the future or tell fortunes. I never used to believe that anyone could tell my fortune and I would never go with anyone when they would ask me to go and check out a fortune teller. Then about 10 years ago, my wife and I went to a friend's dinner party and one of her friends was someone who was supposed to be able to tell fortunes. As I felt comfortable with friends, I thought I just have some fun with it. Others were very into it and getting advice about meeting new love interests and so forth. Then it came to my turn and she just held my hand, looked at it and simply said that I was OK and nothing really big was coming, but she did say "there is something about your eyes..make sure to eat lots of carrots." I laughed and never thought anything of it and even when years later, I was diagnosed as having glaucoma, it took me a long while before I remembered what she predicted. I think this is just a talent of being able to actually "feel" another person's thoughts and feelings. There are many beliefs that may be hard to show proof that they are real.. but they can't be disproved either. Just because I have never seen a million dollars doesn't mean it doesn't exist. With all the advances in technology, think of all of the bits of data that are flowing all around and through us looking for their receivers or vessels that will change the data back into real physical data that we can see and touch on our computer and mobile phone screens. There is an infinite amount of "stuff" that we all haven't seen or know about yet, and yet that does not mean that it doesn't exist. My point is that maybe when you think you have really good common sense or seem to be able to tell when a person is lying to you or that they are a bad person but they are good at convincing others how nice they are... maybe this is just a gift that you can feel what is going on around you and you can feel what a person is like or is thinking. Maybe some people are just really... really gifted with this same high level of "common sense".