tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50332042419048364122024-03-20T10:08:11.845-05:00Monday Morning MinuteMonday Morning Minute by Blanton Advisors, LLC. CFO and Financial advising in The Woodlands, Texas.Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.comBlogger454125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-48624942162782078132024-03-11T04:30:00.002-05:002024-03-11T04:30:00.134-05:00Four years ago today…<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In my mind, today is the four-year anniversary of the start of the
pandemic in the United States. On this day in 2020, both the Houston Rodeo and
the NBA shut down entirely. Not long after that the entire country was pretty
much in a lock down. For some of us it was a few weeks, for others it was much
longer. Every single person, business, organization, and activity in our world
was impacted. Many are still feeling that impact. Our world is not the same
four years later. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What have we learned? I will stay away from medical, political, or
socio-economic lessons. What have you learned as an individual? I have shared
these questions before. They are worth considering again. Actually, they are
worth considering frequently, not just in the wake of a pandemic. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Are you going to have better family
relationships?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Have you learned a new craft or
skill?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Are you growing in your faith?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Have you discovered new ways to
give back in your community?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Will you be more serious about saving
2-3 months of living expenses?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Has your perspective about
work/life balance changed?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Do you have new goals and
objectives for the balance of the year?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Will you bring a new level of
commitment and energy to your job or your business?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Have you read a business or self-help
book you have been putting off?<o:p></o:p></span></p></blockquote>
Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-85391860536525703282024-03-04T04:30:00.001-06:002024-03-04T04:30:00.193-06:00People<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">The
world is comprised of three types of people…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Those who make things
happen.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Those who watch and/or
follow what happens.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Those who ask what
happened.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Hopefully
we are not always #3!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, in
certain aspects of our life, we likely are the ones who ask, “what happened?”. It
is hard to be #1 or #2 regarding every area of our lives, much less to be #1
all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To me the key is which one
of these are we regarding things that really matter?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance, family, marriage, faith,
parenting, or whatever may be of absolute importance to us. What are we in
those roles?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is okay to be #3 about
entertainment, sports, fashion, or even current events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not okay to be #3 regarding things of
significance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">When it
comes to the things that really matter, we all should strive to be one of those
who make things happen!<o:p></o:p></span></p>Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-26147031128929782682024-02-26T10:38:00.000-06:002024-02-26T10:38:07.720-06:00Leadership and Delegation<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Great
leaders understand the power and importance of delegation. For me, it is
something I am still learning. But we cannot delegate everything. As leaders,
we do not delegate responsibility. Projects, initiatives, organizations, and
businesses are the responsibility of leaders. That responsibility remains ours
and it should never be abdicated. We can delegate tasks. We often delegate
decisions. Action items and implementation are delegated. Ultimate
responsibility remains with the leader.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Delegate
tasks, decisions, and action items. Never delegate responsibility. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-9277427895039454802024-02-19T05:02:00.001-06:002024-02-19T05:02:00.298-06:00Presidents’ Day<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As we celebrate
Presidents’ Day, I find myself thinking about the role of the President as a
leader. The President of the United States is the official leader of our
country and the ultimate leader of our military. He is also referred to as the
leader of the free world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those roles
are true and fitting. Responsibilities and power come with his elected position.
He is a leader by title. However, holding a position in title does not make one
a great leader of people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless of
your political affiliation, I think that most will agree that we have had
presidents from both parties who were in fact great leaders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Furthermore, we have had even more who were
leaders in title and never mastered the art of truly leading people. Never
confuse a title with true quality leadership. Many title holders are great
leaders, some are not. On the other hand, many great leaders have no title at
all. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Happy Presidents’ Day!<o:p></o:p></span></p>Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-69065260941455022292024-02-12T12:11:00.000-06:002024-02-12T12:11:05.184-06:00Leadership<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are all leaders. Some
are formal leaders with titles, others are informal leaders with influence. We
lead at home, church, in our community and at work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We lead our children, our peers, and our
employees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you do not consider
yourself a leader, you are ignoring an opportunity to influence those around
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Embrace these leadership points and
do your absolute best to be a great leader!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hope - Great leaders give people hope for a better tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Consistency - When followers never know what to expect from a leader,
they will stop expecting anything.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Influence - People do not respond well when pushed, forced or
directed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They respond best when
influenced by leaders they respect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Honesty & Trust - Trust and honesty are established when words
and actions match up.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Accountability - Leaders understand that followers need to see
leaders who are willing to be accountable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Humility - As leaders we should be concerned with what is right,
not if we are right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Respect & Caring - People do not care what you know until they
know that you care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-12998501273268756732024-02-05T04:30:00.001-06:002024-02-05T04:30:00.172-06:00Leadership<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of the most critical
attributes of a great leader is consistency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you know me well, you know how I feel about consistency. This is not
the first MMM devoted to the topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Steady
and consistent leadership develops loyal followers. It maintains calm and
stabilizes expectations. Consistency means that when the question is the same,
the answer is the same, no matter if the names and places change. The answer is
the same no matter the emotional, financial, or legal implications. Dependable
answers and consistent responses create a stable environment where expectations
are clear. This does not mean that different times may not require different
responses. It does not mean that business circumstances can’t dictate changes
in policy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it does mean that
people know what to expect from their leader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John Maxwell says, “If
people do not know what to expect from a leader, they will come to expect
nothing.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As leaders, we should want
people to know what to expect from us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Great leaders have sound
values and convictions. Those things do not change and therefore they are
consistent in their leadership. A great leader is the rock of consistency for
their team, followers, business or family.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-57276032901918121812024-01-29T04:50:00.001-06:002024-01-29T04:50:04.553-06:00When life gives you lemons…<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Twenty
years ago, this week I finished my last chemotherapy for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
The notes in my diary from that day simply state, “This is my final treatment
and I thought it would never be finished. I kept watching for the last drop.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That
was a long time ago. Even though my diagnosis is considered treatable but not
curable, the longer I remain in remission the lower the odds are of recurrence.
That was true at ten and fifteen years. It is especially true, this week at
twenty! I am blessed to have had a tolerable treatment regimen and a favorable
outcome. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Many
of you know that our family took my diagnosis combined with the loss of my
father to leukemia and turned it into a passion of raising money for blood
cancer research. Over the past nineteen years our family (The Blanton Bunch)
has raised and donated over $565,000 to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Lemons to Lemonade, my friends!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only
answer for blood cancers is funding research for a cure. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I can’t
believe it has been twenty years…<o:p></o:p></span></p>Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-42135041897471031032024-01-22T04:30:00.001-06:002024-01-22T04:30:00.141-06:00Communicating<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you follow the MMM you know
I have written a lot on listening. Focused and intentional listening is
powerful. But let’s look at the other aspect of communication. That is the role
of the communicator. Communication is a two-way street between the communicator
and the listener. The real burden is on the communicator. They are the ones
delivering a message. They are the ones trying to make a point. It is their job
to successfully convey their intended message. All the great listening in the
world cannot overcome a poorly delivered concept or idea. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The next time you feel the
urge to say, “Would you just listen to what I am saying?”, consider pausing and
reviewing your delivery as the communicator. The burden is on the sender of the
message.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Have a blessed week.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></p>Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-10446121558675411412024-01-15T04:30:00.001-06:002024-01-15T04:30:00.148-06:00Love & Forgiveness<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">As we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day today, you will see
many of his profound quotes. He is one of the most widely quoted historical
figures. Here is one that strikes me as especially poignant.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“We must develop and maintain the capacity to
forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to
love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us.
When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Consider the relationship
between love and forgiveness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-64935080247095655712024-01-08T14:33:00.001-06:002024-01-08T14:33:00.141-06:00One Thing<p> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Let's make this easy. Make it your goal to do “one thing” different in 2024. Pick one
thing that is important for you to change, or improve. Then develop a “one
thing” plan to make that change not only happen but stick.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We all
know the annual resolutions regarding health and fitness, work goals or
personal habit improvements. If we try to fix all of these at one time, we can
be overwhelmed. I don’t know about you, but I have a long list of challenges in
those areas. I don’t need 15 goals. I need one goal to focus on. One that I can
work on in 45-60 days and then I can pick another one. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pick one thing…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Do less of something (Quantify it)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Do more of something (Quantify it)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Stop something (Specifically how)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Create something (Specifically how)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Accomplish something (Specifically how)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">What is your one
thing?</span>Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-34726570540318731022023-12-25T04:30:00.001-06:002023-12-25T04:30:00.142-06:00Happy Holidays!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">May you and your family
have a truly blessed Christmas and a very Happy New Year!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The MMM will take off
next week for the holidays and return on Monday, January 8<sup>th</sup> of 2024.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-22869014325812000802023-12-18T04:30:00.001-06:002023-12-18T04:30:00.199-06:00Undivided attention<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As humans one of the greatest gifts we can give is our undivided
attention. While that sounds simple, consider what it really means. With
deadlines, meetings, email, texts, social media, and cell phones, how often do
you really give someone your undivided attention? It is incredibly easy for our
thoughts to drift to something we consider more urgent. There really should be
nothing more urgent than what we are being told by our friends, peers and
subordinates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Giving someone our attention allows them to speak and truly be
heard. It allows them to feel positive about our relationship with them. It
allows you to focus on what you are being told and learn something from their
perspective. It is a foundational piece of the relationship between leader and
follower. Loyal associates deserve your undivided attention. It is so vital in
personal relationships. This principle is even more true at home with spouses
and children!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Try it out, you might learn something you and you will be
appreciated!<o:p></o:p></span></p>Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-72743195950864569512023-12-11T04:30:00.001-06:002023-12-11T04:30:00.201-06:00Laugh, Think, Cry<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“To me, there are three
things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives.
Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You
should spend some time in thought. Number three is, you should have your
emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you
laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day. You
do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="ListParagraph1" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jim Valvano, ESPNs
speech 1993<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am always reminded of
this speech this time of year on ESPN. Jim Valvano was dying of cancer when he
gave it. Sadly, he passed away less than two months later. If you have never
heard this speech, you need to. (Easy to find on YouTube) His words of wisdom
make up one of the most moving speeches of all time. It is powerful,
motivating, passionate and emotional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What if we all really experienced all three things daily?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was right, we would have something
special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Laugh, Think and Cry today…<o:p></o:p></span></p>Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-11438176145271430602023-12-04T04:30:00.001-06:002023-12-04T04:30:00.138-06:00Celebrate<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">We should celebrate things in life.
Certainly birthdays, holidays, and significant accomplishments are worthy of
celebration. But what about celebrations in the workplace? As leaders, we
should celebrate our team, our successes, and our milestones. There is
something fun about celebrating. It brings people together, sometimes people
who don’t always work together or interact. Celebrations in the workplace
create moments of pride. They commemorate shared successes. Events of
celebration are also more casual than our normal work environment. This creates
opportunities for camaraderie and relationship building. Celebrations are about
people! Consider this…What gets celebrated gets repeated. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-ligatures: standardcontextual;">Who will you celebrate this week?<o:p></o:p></span></p>Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-55993183837172256072023-11-27T04:30:00.001-06:002023-11-27T04:30:00.131-06:00Movement<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our goal as leaders, public
speakers and thought leaders should be almost singularly focused on movement.
It matters not what we say, the message we deliver, or the thoughts we convey,
if they do not lead to movement. When I say movement, I mean action. I mean forward
movement. I mean progress. That's what we want to instill in teams and
organizations. Forward motion should be our constant goal. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sure, we can speak on
platitudes and concepts, but if they don't lead to action (movement) what good
have we done? Think about your next staff meeting. What about your next
company address? How about your next one-on-one with your team leader? Are you
conveying a message that creates movement? I feel like it's one of the greatest
leadership questions we can face. Are we encouraging movement? Does our
leadership result in action?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Who will you help move forward
this week?<o:p></o:p></span></p>Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-40496007394870691672023-11-20T04:30:00.002-06:002023-11-20T04:30:00.148-06:00Nineteen Years of the MMM!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Monday Morning Minute was born on November 21, 2004.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> This </span>Tuesday will mark the nineteenth year of
sharing leadership thoughts and challenges with you all on a weekly basis. I
hope somewhere along the way you have found something motivating, encouraging
or challenging, maybe all three.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving and a great start
to the holiday season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be blessed my
friends…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-43770191763801063412023-11-13T04:30:00.001-06:002023-11-13T04:30:00.146-06:00Your Five<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">There is a concept out there that states, “We tend
to become like the five people we spend most of our time around”. Makes you
think about who you are hanging out with. Consider that for a minute regarding
your work world. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s easy to think of this concept in regards
to our good friends that we hang out with after hours and on weekends, or even
more so our family and others whom we consider close. But, we spend eight hours
a day in our work environment. Annually, that is 2080 hours. That is more time
than we spend with most other people in our lives. How are those that you work
with influencing you? What good or bad habits might you adopt from the people
that you spend eight hours a day with? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We should work someplace where the people we
work with make us better. Think about that for a minute. Are the people you
work with daily making you a better person? Are you learning and growing
because of the people that you hang out with between 8:00 and 5:00 every single
workday? The concept of who our five closest friends are is a powerful one, but
it needs to be viewed within the context of our work environment. You may not
be great friends with the people that you work with every single day, but you
do spend at least eight hours a day with them. That’s a lot of time. Their
habits, their behaviors, their responses, cannot be ignored. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you work with people who make you better?<o:p></o:p></span></p>Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-5422850934149033492023-11-06T13:53:00.002-06:002023-11-06T13:53:30.572-06:00Start Somewhere<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sometimes you just need to get started. However, don’t you want to wait until you
have enough time, or you are in the right mood, or you have every possible
required tool at hand? I do! Why do we put off getting started? We have tons of reasons, better yet excuses
that delay our start. Often, it seems
daunting to start a big project. It can
be paralyzing to face something that we know will require concentration and
focus. We search for tasks that we know
require less time or we get distracted with less important action items. Start somewhere. Break the project down into consumable
bites. Set attainable goals that build
towards completion of the larger project. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Just start…</span></p>Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-69280098311295831192023-10-23T04:30:00.003-05:002023-10-27T10:18:02.867-05:00Conversations in Your Own Head<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Do you talk to yourself?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe not literally out loud, but do you have conversations with
yourself in your own head?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I do,
and I have to believe that most people do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Is there a voice in your head that you cannot help but listen to? How do
those conversations go?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are they
positive, encouraging and uplifting? Or are they negative, downgrading and
discouraging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All too often for me they
can be the latter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why are we so hard on ourselves? Maybe not everyone is. Those that
have mastered the ability to be positive and self-assuring in their own minds
are likely to be more successful and maybe happier all around; It is not an
easy task.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should understand that we
need to be our own best friend, our own greatest supporter and biggest
fan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am not suggesting arrogance here. I am suggesting that we need
to be positive about ourselves in our own minds. We need to talk ourselves up,
be encouraging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing but good can
come from that. There are plenty of negative influences out there today. We do
not need another one in our own head!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Listen to your positive self in your own mind!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-32119701664615979942023-10-23T04:30:00.001-05:002023-10-23T04:30:00.182-05:00Some days are diamonds. Some days are stones.<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some days are in fact diamonds. Those
are the days when all seems to be right with the world. Others are more
like rough uncut stones when nothing seems to go smoothly. Most days
actually fall somewhere in between. There are rough spots during the day
offset by bright spots at other times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some days we even have opportunities to turn stones into diamonds. For
the most part we learn to take the good with the bad and roll with the flow,
knowing that there are always more diamonds to come. Maybe not tomorrow or next
week, but there are more days of diamonds. By faith, strength, discipline and
wisdom we endure the stones and rejoice in the diamonds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Remember too, the stones will never
totally go away…<o:p></o:p></span></p>Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-28168257123601162862023-10-09T04:30:00.001-05:002023-10-09T04:30:00.143-05:00Wisdom<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The MMM has often addressed wisdom
and our ongoing pursuit of it. Wisdom is a permanent fixture on my prayer list.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have also written about how impatient
we are as humans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Impatience and wisdom
don’t go well together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider the
following which addresses both points…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wisdom
is not proven by argument or debate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wisdom is proven over time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
people adamantly proclaim that their opinion is best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless of how convincingly these people
defend their viewpoint, time is the best judge of their wisdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result of a practice proves its validity,
not how loudly it is promoted.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<sup>1</sup><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Be wary of those who seek to have
their own wisdom acknowledged before it can be proven over time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember to be patient with your own
understanding of wisdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have a blessed week.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 – Taken from:
Experiencing God Day-By-Day, Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby<o:p></o:p></span></p>Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-3778328638328253752023-10-06T04:30:00.001-05:002023-10-22T13:13:53.681-05:00Some days are diamonds. Some days are stones.<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some days are in fact diamonds. Those
are the days when all seems to be right with the world. Others are more
like rough uncut stones when nothing seems to go smoothly. Most days
actually fall somewhere in between. There are rough spots during the day
offset by bright spots at other times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some days we even have opportunities to turn stones into diamonds. For
the most part we learn to take the good with the bad and roll with the flow,
knowing that there are always more diamonds to come. Maybe not tomorrow or next
week, but there are more days of diamonds. By faith, strength, discipline and
wisdom we endure the stones and rejoice in the diamonds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Remember too, the stones will never
totally go away…<o:p></o:p></span></p>Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-43326269540948853412023-10-02T04:30:00.004-05:002023-10-02T04:30:00.145-05:00Positive Feedback<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Are you complimentary
when you receive good service?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Do you
provide a lift to someone by acknowledging their smile or positive
outlook?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">You might be surprised at the
difference you can make in someone’s day by simply being complimentary.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Here are just a few…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When a hotel clerk greets you with a smile and helpful attitude
make sure they know you noticed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When the dry cleaner’s employee is prompt and professional,
genuinely thank them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When your dining waitstaff is especially efficient give them a compliment
and maybe even a larger tip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">People that serve others
for a living are often mistreated. Can you do your part to change that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they are doing a really exceptional job,
go out of your way to let their boss know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Positive feedback is a great motivator and can change someone’s day,
maybe even their future! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Pay someone a genuine
compliment today and have a blessed week! <o:p></o:p></span></p>Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-20117211477867025662023-09-18T04:30:00.003-05:002023-09-18T04:30:00.152-05:00One Particular Harbor<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I have been
listening to a lot of Jimmy Buffett music the last two weeks. I hope you
have too! The first time I saw him perform live was 1979 in Austin and it
cost me $7.50; I have the ticket stub. His whimsical tunes and laid-back
lifestyle were something that I fell in love with. Eventually I saw Jimmy
in person at least 29 times. Yes, I became somewhat of a Parrot
head. Even though I have been an avid concert goer for years, not one
single performer comes close to that total. My kids were raised on his
music, and it has been played at parties and celebrations in my home for
years. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Here are just a few of my favorite
lyrics and song titles…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 38.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The weather is here I wish you were
beautiful.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 38.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I wish lunch could last forever.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 38.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If the phone doesn’t ring it’s me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 38.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Quietly making noise.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 38.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A permanent reminder of a temporary
feeling.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 38.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I heard I was in town.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 38.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are the people our parents warned
us about.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 38.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I made enough money to buy Miami,
but I pissed it away so fast.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 38.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There’s a thin line between Saturday
night and Sunday morning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 38.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’d rather die while I’m living,
than live while I am dead.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">“It’s important to have as much fun
as possible while we’re here. It balances out the times when the
minefields of life explode.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jimmy Buffet 06-21-22 via Twitter
(X)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">This social
media post expands on the final bullet point above. It is worth noting
that he was in a minefield explosion when he posted this, as he had already
been diagnosed with the cancer that would ultimately take his life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">But then
there is <i>One Particular Harbor</i>… This song originally resonated
with me due to its sing along nature and intriguing Tahitian lyrics. It was
inspired by the view from above Cook’s Bay in Tahiti, but to me the song became
analogous to that safe place we all need. That one particular harbor
where we feel safe and protected and can relax. For some of us that can
be a mental place based on our faith or our meditative practices. For
others it is an actual physical place. It could be your patio in the
mornings with coffee. Perhaps it is a hammock or a bench in a special
place. Maybe it is your mountain home or beach house. It could even be a
conversation with that one friend that totally “gets you”. Or maybe it is
a simple evening with close friends. We all have those comfortable places
we like to retreat to, where we are…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sheltered
from the wind</span></i><i><span style="color: #202124; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">Where the children play on the shore each day</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">And all are safe within</span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Where is
your One Particular Harbor? Have you been there lately?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you
thought heaven was awesome before, imagine what it is like now with Jimmy
Buffett there!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">RIP Jimmy Buffett 1946-2023<o:p></o:p></span></p>Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5033204241904836412.post-47757156575631780752023-09-11T04:30:00.001-05:002023-09-11T04:30:00.244-05:009/11<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Twenty-two years ago, our country was changed forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those old enough will remember exactly where
they were that morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The attack, now
known simply by the date of its’ occurrence, was nothing like this country had
ever seen before, and hopefully never will again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The images were, and still are, horrifying
and unforgettable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were unified as a
country, and we rallied together in the subsequent days, weeks, and months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, that unity has faded away, but
that is a story for a different day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I have had the opportunity to visit the 9/11 Memorial & Museum
in New York City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a fascinating
collection of stories and memorabilia located at the base of the Twin
Towers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found it to be incredibly well
done, powerful, but somber and reverent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My granddaughter, who was not even born at the time of the attacks, was
riveted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She came home with an
understanding, and true feeling for that tragedy that she would never get from
a textbook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I encourage you to visit there
if you have the chance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Don’t ever forget!<o:p></o:p></span></p>Blanton Advisorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04621764141123958966noreply@blogger.com0