Author: Bryan E Wilson

I am a student, steward, servant.

Slow Computer Got You Down?

December 19, 2013

computer rageI couldn’t help but laugh as I saw this cartoon online this morning.  If you are reading this blog, chances are you have been in this guy’s shoes at some point or another.

Before I received a new computer, I used to joke around by claiming that there should be a support group or similar 12-step program for people who find themselves in a daily battle with their desktop, tablet, or similar device.  A battle in which we, as humans, are destined to fall short to an inanimate device.

Before you resort to  chucking your past-its-prime monitor out your office window, have a seat, drop the sledgehammer, and read on about some simple ways to improve the speed of your device.  Of course, there comes a time throughout man’s inevitable plight with technology, in which he must learn to simply cut his losses and purchase a new unit.  I call this rule #11, since it is not listed below. In most cases, your colleagues (and your blood pressure) will thank you.  If all else fails, remember that it is a machine incapable of fathoming human emotion, and physical damage to the unit will not improve its efficiency in any way, shape, or form. 🙂

The below article from Foxnews.com is a great reference to keep handy for those unpredictable glitches that we are all accustomed to.  If anything, search the funnies for a cartoon and remember that laughter is always the best medicine!

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/12/18/10-ways-to-fix-slow-computer/

The Difference Between Customs and Habits

December 18, 2013

Pre Black FridayHappy belated Thanksgiving to all of the readers out there! Despite the inevitable stress and chaos that the holidays may bring, I hope you had the opportunity to spend moments with family and ponder the many things that we have to be thankful for!

In a similar vein, words cannot express how thrilled I was to read about the decades old “blue laws” in the states of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Maine that have banned the new fad of shopping on Thanksgiving day.  I know everyone may not agree with me on this idea, but I would support a similar ban on professional sports activities on Thanksgiving Day, as well.  Before I get myself into trouble, I should note that I am in no way against the notion of watching football on Thanksgiving with the family.  However, in order to watch the game, it requires athletes, staff, and spectators to be away from their families on a day when we are meant to be surrounded by loved ones, while pondering the things we have to be thankful for.

Perhaps I am a little old school, but some things I like to keep close to tradition.  It is my traditional way of thinking that has led me to wonder where do we draw the line between customs and habits?  It holds true to the customs of the first Thanksgiving to gather with our friends and family and profess our love and gratitude.  Yet, what about the new trend of shopping on this sacred day, or going to sporting events instead of seeing our families? It’s true that the three wise men brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to honor the birth of the newborn King, Jesus. I’ve always believed that gift giving is okay, as long as we  remember the reason behind why we do the things we do around the holidays.

The idea of football on Thanksgiving is actually really nice, provided you are with your family for the day.  Wouldn’t it be great if we could all just go back to playing touch football in the yard with our families instead of leaving them to watch a game on Thanksgiving?

That said, I do believe it is wonderful that certain states are prohibiting America’s newest spin on a sacred holiday. Even when it’s masked with the phrase “pre-Black Friday” it does not cover up the underlying truth behind the activity: going shopping on Thanksgiving Day instead of being with your family. New traditions can be fun and I believe activities like wearing the same pjs, exchanging ornaments, or watching a movie as a family will only enhance the holiday experience. It’s when our actions keep us away from our families that we begin to see a divide between custom and just habit.

We could all use a reminder of what the holidays really mean.  So, I encourage you all to stay with your families this holiday season if you can and to keep Christ in Christmas! As always, please remember to encourage excellence to others in all that you do!

Nietzsche on Encouraging Excellence

December 18, 2013

soaring eagleGerman philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once spoke the words “the higher you soar, the smaller you appear to those who cannot fly”.  The phrase is speaking to those who may be deemed an underdog or have the odds against them.  We are told never to give up, to work hard, and believe in ourselves throughout life’s inevitable obstacles. Nelson Mandella once said, “It always seems impossible, until it’s done”.

What are some ways that you can reflect this philosophy in your life?

Living Life the Ed Foreman Way

December 18, 2013

Ed ForemanAtlanta – Friend, no one encourages excellence as wonderfully as Ed Foreman. (www.edforeman.com)

In 1996, IBM brought Ed in for a half day seminar at our annual meeting to share his life lessons and recipe for a successful career. From a poor farmer’s son to being elected to Congress from two states and successful business owner and motivational speaker, Ed has changed lives with his wit, charm, and positive outlook. Please click on his homepage to watch his videos and learn more about him.

Although Ed is getting up there in years, his positive attitude and enthusiasm will inspire you to encourage excellence in others.

The 2 Things that GE Looks for in Key Employees

November 15, 2013

Kennesaw, GA – GE (www.ge.com) was a great Fortune 500 company long before Jack Welch took over as CEO in 1981.  The GE brand has continued to flourish because people are seen as its most valuable asset. Why do other companies routinely select GE senior managers to come run their organizations?  Because at its core, GE leverages these two talents of key employees: critical thinking and effective communication.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/features/corporate-dossier/susan-peters-on-how-ge-churns-out-world-class-business-leaders/articleshow/25770610.cms

GE Logo

Encourage excellence today and help others with improving their critical thinking and effective communication.

Tough Love

October 15, 2013

Tough Love

Kennesaw, GA- Some tough love advice from New Zealand for young people.  Go make something happen today. Encourage Excellence!

Northland College (NZ) principal John Tapene has offered the following words from a judge who regularly deals with youth.

Always we hear the cry from teenagers ‘What can we do, where can we go?’

… My answer is, “Go home, mow the lawn, wash the windows, learn to cook, build a raft, get a job, visit the sick, study your lessons, and after you’ve finished, read a book.”

Your town does not owe you recreational facilities and your parents do not owe you fun. The world does not owe you a living, you owe the world something. You owe it your time, energy and talent so that no one will be at war, in poverty or sick and lonely again.

In other words, grow up, stop being a cry baby, get out of your dream world and develop a backbone, not a wishbone.

Start behaving like a responsible person. You are important and you are needed. It’s too late to sit around and wait for somebody to do something someday.

Someday is now and that somebody is you…

Good Habits for Success

October 10, 2013

Kennesaw, GA Image

Folks who know me, also know I can be a little eccentric, absent-minded, and sometimes in a world of my own.  Encouraging Excellence is a motto that was embraced by me to keep others positive and myself focused on the big picture of what we can accomplish if we put our minds and hearts into making a difference.  Here is an article about the daily routines of some highly accomplished people as they made their impact on the world.  You will enjoy reading about some of the weird things these famous people would do.

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/oct/05/daily-rituals-creative-minds-mason-currey

Encourage Excellence every day. Bryan

Ian Brooks on Success

October 9, 2013

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Kennesaw, GA-

A friend of mine sent me this recent quote that really hits home on how we gather information and make decisions.  Let me know what you think about it.

 “You have to self-train, you have to read, you have to study. You can’t expect to be spoon-fed anymore. The world is moving too fast to spoon-feed the information. You earn your success in life.” 

— Ian Brooks, European head of innovation at Hewlett-Packard, as quoted by Computerworld UK Oct 4, 2013

 Remember to encourage excellence in others today….

 BW

1 Question

October 9, 2013
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Using customer satisfaction surveys are all the rage these days and the folks at Harvard who study  these things determined that using just a few very concise questions were enough to get to the heart of a solution.  The same goes with our own lives.  Once we know our core principles, we can continually ask ourselves, “is what I am doing right now getting me closer to my goal(s) or further away?”  Wow, how would our lives change if we asked that one simple question over and over as we go about our daily lives?  Think about it.
 
Remember that encouraging excellence in others is a very worthy effort by all of us.
 
Bryan