City View, A Boston Stat of Mind

July 31st, 2011

July 31, 2011

Boston State of Mind

Ok, I’ve been in Boston for about 5 days now and I haven’t yet figured out this town from the people perspective. It’s a pretty city at night. Lots of lights, and shimmering waterways caught in every direction you look. The skyline is modest, yet stately. The hotels are mostly new, yet there is no mistaking the rich history that is tucked within and around the alleys and cobblestone roads. There’s a university or college in practically every neighborhood too.

As for the people. So far’ I’ve met the Governor of the state, the mayor of the city, 28 waiters, 7 cabbies, 6 bartenders, 4 policemen, a trolley driver and two maids.

Besides them all being die-hard Redsox fans, I found most of them to be middle of the road, attitude wise. Oh, with the exception of that one business woman I met yesterday. She was full of vinegar and and no one, not even this guy was going to crack that nut. I wish her the best as she left our meeting and went on her angry way. I won’t hold Boston responsible for that one.

All in all, I think I’m just disappointed that I didn’t get ANY real vibe from such a historic city. Therefore, I will challenge myself to use the next 48 hours to try and find the real cultural and character pulse of the Nations first city.

Is that a Duck Boat I see?

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Business is GOOD. Are YOU?

July 30th, 2011

6/19/2011

Business is good, are YOU?

I get the distinct pleasure of working with business owners and leaders everyday. My role is it help them navigate the procurement world of a major energy company. But more than that, I get to explore the business sense and mind of some outstanding business owners.

Some have built the company from day one. Some have inherited the challenge, while others have simply taken an investment risk. No matter their point of entry, they all carry this sincere, yet dangerous since of entitlement.

Now don’t get me wrong. Small and large business owners deserve the best opportunities to grow and prosper their businesses. Especially when they provide a valueable product or service. But more importantly, it must  provide a great value to those they pursue.

What I propose, is that no matter your business or service. When given a chance to discuss your business, tell us somethingwe don’t know. Don’t go on-and-on about how long you’ve been in business. Or how awesome your business is. Or how you want to build a partnership.

Quite simply, share your intimate knowledge of the company or person’s needs. Ask more questions than you are comfortable with. And then, hit them with why your product or service will make a diffference.

The ones who commit to doing this well, will prove to be not only a good business, but a good business person.

Start today.

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Embrace NOW, National Council of La Raza inspires!

July 30th, 2011

7/27/11

Embrace NOW!

I attended the National Council of La Raza conference this week in DC. The theme this year was “Embrace NOW”.

At first I was skeptical of the takeaway possibilities because the general attitude of many attendees was victim this, victim that. But somewhere during

the week, the attitude tide changed. Some, with my urging I might add, began to discuss openly the idea of taking charge of their own destiny. People, and groups began to visibly open their minds and their hearts to the art of the possible.

You could tell that some of us recalled that we have a heart and a brain that are both full of great potential. It is with this attitude shift, that an organization like La Raza becomes equipped with super human power.

As the conference ended on Tuesday evening, I couldn’t help but to look forward to the Wednesdays to come, with the hope that each attendee would look to their own capacity to make a difference.

Now, go change the world NCLR!

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The Wonderful Wide-World of Sports Heros.

June 15th, 2011

Will we ever get what we want out of professional sports?

As I watched what I considered a pretty competitive NBA finals, I couldn’t help but to hear the constant hammer around a “certain” star player.  Personally I thought that Jason Kidd (didn’t he go to school with Rice’s Wayne Graham?) should have been spotlighted more. But it was the Cleveland Jilter that got much more due than any one person deserves.  Which brings me to my question.

WHAT exactly do we expect out of our sports heroes today?  Do they HAVE to:

– play where we want them to play

– play as long as we want them to play

– play everyday regardless of injury or pain

– play for the salary that we think they deserve

– play together (no I in team) whenever we watch them

– only charge us $3.00 to come watch them

– serve us $2 beer and $1 hotdogs

– allow us to wear their jersey with their name/number on it for $5

– tweet and facebook with us daily and only tell us what we want to hear And maybe not finally, but equally as important as the “short” list above,

– win a state, national, regional and world championship at least “every other year”!!

If all this is true, then you guys(notice I didn’t include me) qualify as the WORST BOSSES EVER!!

By the way, I can’t believe that Hakeem “2-time” Olajuwon, John “dos-time” Elway, Cal “all-the-time” Ripken and Patrick “ice-time” Roy all retired and left ME without a HERO to root for!  How could they tear my heart out like that?  How selfish can a guy be? I digress…

Be sure and smile today and do something kind for a stranger!

Brian

reach me at Brian.Hall@FridayHarbour.org

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The Wave, a sporting wonder that never dies.

June 12th, 2011

The Wave went around 6 times (not counting the 15 start-up attempts) tonight as I watched the Astros play a home game against the Braves. Oh yeah, there were more Braves fans than Astros fans…go figure. 

Where the heck did this “Wave” thing start? 

The kids behind me yelled and yelled for it to continue, as if their life depended on it. The woman next to me cheered it on, like it was her horse in the last turn at the Belmont Stakes. The crowd flung their bodies and arms up in the air (some just a wee bit ahead of the thing…as if their anticipation of participation got the best of them and they lost their sense of timing.  And as you watched them…they watched and waited in such grand anticipation for the thing to slowly make its way around the park. “What Baseball Game??” We’re doing the Wave here. That’s all that matters, right?  

This thing seemed to gain momentum as if to alert us that the 2-2 8th inning tie was soon to blasted open by one huge at-bat.  (the tie WAS broken, but not by my ‘Stros)  Although, the home team suffered another late-inning breakdown, I must say, it’s good to be able to walkup, buy cheap tickets, grab a cold beer and hotdog (or beef burrito) and catch Americas favorite past-time under the lights on a Saturday night. 

But where o where did that darn Wave begin? Perhaps a trip to Google.com will provide the answer. In the meantime…  

Be safe, be kind and serve others often.

Brian  (brian.hall@fridayharbour.org)

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Remembering why Memorial Day is so Important

June 11th, 2011
Last Memorial Day eve.
 
I decided to stop for lunch  at Corner Square Bakery after leaving the Byron Nelson Golf Tournament in Las Colinas. At the table next to us there was cool, but very annoyed youngster giving his mom a tough time. You could tell that she was used to his behavior as she balanced him in her left arm as she quietly packed up their lunch in the to-go containers.
 
I asked if I can help her out and she politely said no thanks. When I inquired, she politely announced that he was in his “terrible twos”. And I said I noticed. As he calmed down a bit and she finished packing their lunch, I wished her the best with the little guy. She said there are good and bad days, especially since his dad is stationed overseas.
 
I was quickly jolted out of my sometimes self centered, sometimes angry disposition. You see, it is this very weekend that sends a lengthy reminder to us all that there are way too many men and women, putting their bravery on the line every day. It is this sacrifice, that allows us the many freedoms everyday.
 
So I’ll promise, if you will too. Everyday, I will be more thankful. I will be more courteous. I will help others, even when they dont ask. And, I will think about those who are far away from home, PROTECTING HOME.
 
We live in the land of the free, because of the BRAVE!

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