Wednesday, December 30, 2009

The Four Capsules

Greetings Happy People,

Today is December 30, 2009. We are only two days away from a brand new decade!! To celebrate the welcoming of this new decade, I have some things to share with you. Excuse me while I bring them in….my goodness they are pretty heavy!!

As you all look at these huge pill-shaped items, you are probably wondering what the heck they are. Well my friends, they are my four different time capsules. Each capsule is from different years in different decades of my life: 1979, 1989, 1999, and 2009. Some of them are dusty while others are a little newer. What I am going to do for you right now is open up these capsules and just take a look at some of the events and situations that happened in my life so far. Before I open them, we may drift into different years between openings. Are you ready?? Well then, let’s begin with 1979.

WAIT A MINUTE!! Am I hearing “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” by Michael Jackson inside this capsule? Oh this one will be interesting to open. Where is my crowbar??

(Opening 1979 capsule)

Wow!! I see a four-year old kid inside this capsule!! He is living in a house somewhere in Norfolk, Virginia. I also see his mother and his two older sisters. His dad must still be in the Navy. It looks like he is in the midst of pre-school. Within the next year, he is about to embark on an adventure known as Kindergarten. The friends he would play with, the lunches he would eat, the many times he would hurt himself when he falls off of those monkey bars. This kid has an interesting looking afro. He looks so happy and carefree. Heck!! He looks very smart too!! Okay its time to close this capsule.

(Closing 1979 capsule)

That was an interesting look into the 1979 capsule. Now it's time open up the next one, the 1989 capsule. Before we open it, let us see what we can hear from this capsule. Okay I am hearing something from Milli Vanilli. It sounds like “Girl You Know Its True.” Okay…let’s just hope we don’t see a 14 year old kid with dreadlocks and bad lip-syncing skills.

(Opening 1989 capsule)

Oh-kay!! I do see a 14 year old kid inside this capsule. He is now living in Las Vegas, Nevada. He has been in this town for 5 years. Instead of dreadlocks, I see him sporting a flattop-afro combination with his hair!! It looks like he is just starting high school. He is wearing a buttoned-up shirt and some dress pants. He is in a private school located on Maryland Parkway and Oakey. He still has a mom and a dad but now he has three sisters. His younger sister was born just a year ago. After being in so many different schools in Norfolk, Seattle, Virginia Beach, and Las Vegas, he is going to stay in this one for more than just two years. Look at the classmates around you 14 year old Jesse, these will be the people you will remember for a long time. Okay its time to close this capsule.

(Closing 1989 capsule)

That capsule was not bad to see. He did have a few growing pains, but he managed to live through them. Now it is time to open up the 1999 capsule. As we open this capsule, you can hear Prince play his song “1999” over and over again. Okay we are at this year, now let’s see what inside this capsule.

(Opening 1999 capsule)

I see a 24 year old young man. He just graduated from college with a Civil Engineering degree. After leaving school and his student internship, he is starting his career with some government agency. Thank God he got rid of that flattop!! He took some tests for his Engineering certificate and passed it. He is taking some more tests to hopefully get promoted in the future. I also see he got rid of his first car a 1985 Ford Tempo. This time, he is driving a 1999 Geo Tracker. Be careful on windy days driving that thing!! He is not only a brother, and a son, but also and uncle too. He also did some writing, hope that goes well for him. Okay its time to close this capsule.


(Closing 1999 capsule)


That was only 10 years ago. I find that very hard to believe!! Time really does fly if you let it!! The next capsule I have here is the newest one. It is my 2009 time capsule. What music do I hear inside this capsule? Ah yes, I hear Taylor Swift. This is great music. Wha-WHAT?? Now I hear Kanye West rapping!! That was pretty rude to interrupt Taylor in the middle of her song!! Oh well, let’s open up the 2009 capsule.

(Opening 2009 capsule)

I see me!! I have gained new friends!! I got promoted at work. Oh what’s this I see? I see me with a beautiful girl at my side!! She has a great smile and she manages to be his right brain through certain times. I am sure she will be there in future times too. He also served in leadership roles through Toastmasters!! He is also reuniting with some of his classmates through a technology known as Facebook!! He seems a lot happier than before too!! Apparently it could be from those personal growth seminars he has been attending. He also undertook some positive thinking methods too via DVD and CDs!! This guy is on his way!!

(Closing 2009 capsule)

Well, we finished looking at my four capsules from 1979, 1989, 1999, and 2009. It was quite the interesting experience looking at all of them.

WAIT A MINUTE. WHAT’S THIS?

It is another capsule!! It looks empty. On the side it says 2019. I wonder what will be inside this capsule. The only way I can find out is to live another 10 years!! Hopefully, this capsule will be filled with plenty of interesting items that will prove nothing but more success and more positive outcomes. Oh well. I guess I will start filling up this fifth capsule when the New Year comes.

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention. HAPPY NEW DECADE!!

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Maria and Mallie

Greetings Happy People,

For this blog, I will introduce two ladies: Maria and Mallie. Both women are the same age, have the same ethnicities, and come from the same neighborhood. Even though they are not related, one would think that they are twin sisters.

A few years ago, they were exactly alike. They were afflicted with tremendous amount of pain in their bodies that affected their mobility. They also fell into the mindset of perpetual victims. While Maria relied on a wheelchair and a walking stick, Mallie relied on alcohol, pain medication, and a breathing machine. Both looked like they were aging beyond their years as they let their afflictions get the best of them.

A year ago, Maria decided to move beyond the pain and get back into life. She started taking some alkali water and noticed that her mobility was improving. Little did she know, this was the beginning of her amazing turnaround. As for Mallie, she chose to stay in her painful state.

Step by step, Maria noticed herself moving better than before. This gave her more good feelings which allowed her to think more positively. She was at the point where she did not need her cane or her wheelchair!! As for Mallie, she continued to stay at where she was. Little did SHE know, the despair, stress, and bad feelings were eating away at her bit by bit.

With her newfound confidence, Maria decided to break the negative bondages that held her back and create things she never thought she could. She met new and amazing friends, networked with a myriad of business associates, and started a ministry for people rebuilding their own lives. Life is looking pretty good for Maria. As for Mallie, negative things were still eating away at her as she dipped further in despair. She still took the pain medication, she still was on the breathing machine, and she still continued to consume more alcohol. Not a good combination!!

Maria is still a major force within her community while Mallie became just a mere farce. How did one move up and the other moved down? The answer is easy. Maria chose to get out of the doldrums to make a better life for herself. This was something Mallie chose not to do.

Empowering speaker and best-selling author, Aimmee Kodachian Riley said the following quote that fits this story well:

“Hope leads to perseverance. Perseverance leads to power. Power leads to success.”

With the right amount of hope, good thoughts, and right thinking, anything is possible!! All you have to do is believe in it and you will come out on top!! Just like Maria!!

That is all I have to say for now. Thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Looking Through the Closed Door

Greetings Happy People,

Yes, I am now officially an engaged man!! When I first work up this morning, I thought of Dana and actually called her my fiance. That is such a cool thing to say!!
Anytime I look at her smile, it makes me smile too!! Deep inside, I knew that proposing to her yesterday was the best move I can make.

While the majority of people are also happy about the engagement of Dana and I, there are some people out there that are not happy with it at all. Yes, like many things there are two ways to view a situation: the positive side and the negative side.

I had negative people tell me that Dana is not the right person for me. They said she is too old for me,they also said that she is overweight too. If you were to see my earlier blog entitled "Ignorance is Not Bliss," you can also tell that people have hurled insults at her that made me very angry. Mind you that this was done off of a snap judgement. Not a good thing huh?

Like Dana, I received judgements based off my own looks. I also recieved judgements on the way I speak, think, and carry myself as a person. I am sure that many of you readers recieved the same judgements at some point in your lives. For people that like to make judgements before meeting anyone, all I got to say to them is nothing. I really have no time for people that do this thing. When you judge someone off a first look, you close the door on everything there is to know about the person. Who knows? That same person you judge may be that same person that helps you in your time of need.

It is always good to take the time out to know a person before you make any decisions. You may be surprised to know who they are and what they can do. The best way to get to know someone is just simply saying "Hello." A simple greeting can create a strong friendship. When I met Dana at the radio station almost four years ago, I started with a simple "Hello." And where it took me, you can probably figure out.

It is always good to say hello and open that door than to not say it and ignore what is on the other side. If we only take the first step and open that door, how much of the world will open for us? One can only know.

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Friday, December 25, 2009

The Third Time is the Charm

Greetings Happy People!!

Okay let's cut to the chase. Tonight, I did something that was totally awesome. It was Christmas night at the Wall household. We were unwrapping our gifts until we got to the final one. It was in a pink bag and it was for Dana. I picked up the bag and gave it to her. Inside I was shaking like Jell-O. She went through the white paper and inside the bag was a small black box. What was inside the box? It was a ring.

The look on Dana's face was beyond priceless. After seeing the look, I stumbled on my on words. With enough courage, I asked her if she would marry me. Thankfully she said yes!! It was a very happy moment for the both of us. Now many of you are asking when is the date. Well, the target date we planned is July 1, 2012. Yes, it seems like a long time and you are asking why that date? When things go well, that will be the day I become a District Governor for Toastmasters International.

This is my third time that I came face to face with the M-word. The first time happened 10 years ago. I was dating someone named Melissa and we were going out pretty well. We thought and talked about marriage, but due to both our hard luck situations, it never came to be.

The second time I came face to face with the M-word, happened with a person that I only dated for six months. I knew things were too good to be true because she was telling me that she wanted to get married to stay in the country. OUCH!! That was back in 2001. Thankfully a former high school classmate steered me away from that direction.

Now this is the third time. What makes this different? First and foremost, we have been dating for the past year and a half. Second, I felt comfortable enough to the point where I can talk about the M-word. Third, I felt that this relationship is the best one I have ever been involved in. Fourth and finally, this relationship is under my own terms and not under any outside influence. I had relationships where other people told me what to do and whom to date. For me that felt uncomfortable.

HECK!! Dana is a fantastic woman and I am very grateful and fortunate to ever have this chance to ask her to marry me.

Now we have some preparations to do for the next 2 years. The feelings I have right now are just amazing. It goes to show you that the third time is definitely the charm!! I have a feeling that as I make this big step forward, it is going to be a good thing in the long run!!

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely

Jesse I-I-I

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Light Through Darkness

Greetings Happy People,

Lately there has been plenty of talk. Most of it is full of gloom, despair, uncertainty, and fear. With all the things happening around us, it is easy to believe that we are going into a downward spiral. Whether it has something to do with the economy or something else, we are facing tough times today. The dark clouds are getting darker; the rough waters are getting rougher; and the uncertain future is becoming more uncertain. We can say that we are at our roughest hours.

This reminds me of what happened ten years ago. I graduated from college with a degree in Civil Engineering. After a six year battle, I was finally done with all of my studies. What made the final semester more challenging were the extra obstacles thrown in my direction. I had an internship with a boss who was a complete pain in the neck, I had a couple of term projects I had to do by myself, and I also lost someone who was near and dear to my heart - my grandmother.

It was quite ironic that the last day I had in college was the same day that the 100-year flood took place in the Las Vegas valley. Little did I know that when this storm ended, I still had another one to encounter. When I left school, I looked for different job opportunities in my field. Unfortunately, I went through lots of rejections. As time passed, my depression grew and I wondered if anyone would hire me. If you were to see me back then, I looked like a horrible mess – physically and mentally. I was literally at the end of my rope when I realized something. I realized I had two choices: let hopelessness drown me or just get out of it. Luckily, I chose the latter.

As my faith started to increase, I took more tests, I filed more resumes, and I went into different interviews. Thanks to those efforts, I manage to get hired by the place I currently work for. I never felt so happy and grateful when I got the phone call that day. My eyes were filled with tears when I hung up the phone. All it took was simple faith.

As many of us stand in this gloomy mist today, we have two choices on how to deal with it: stay in thoughts of despair or believe in thoughts of hope. If we learn anything throughout history, we learn that no matter what depths we are all in, we CAN get out of it. What we are in now is only temporary. We have the capability to not only stand up in the dark, but also turn the light on. We can all shine together in these times. All it takes are two simple things: believing and doing.

Without belief, we keep ourselves in this endless quandary. With belief, we have a chance to get out of it. If you have any belief of hope inside you, HOLD ON TO IT!! For it is that same hope that will take you out of the darkness and into something better.

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Sunday, December 13, 2009

The Choice is Yours

Greetings Happy People,

Have you ever had someone in marketing trying to sell you the next latest thing? How about someone offering you a limitless life insurance policy? What about some smooth talker pushing their latest weight loss system in your face to the point where they call you ten times – four of which are late at night - WHILE YOU ARE SLEEPING?

I have had that happen to me on different occasions. A few years ago I would have accepted multitudes of these opportunities, because I did not have the heart to turn people away. Now, I am able to possess the power to the point where I do not have to deal with these pushy people. Would you like to know how I am able to do this? Come on!! Would you really like to know the secret? Okay I am going to give the answer to you right now!! You don’t have to buy multitudes of video tape nor buy a DVD. All you have to do is the following. ARE YOU READY??

Just say NO!!

That’s right!! I said it!! In order to stop pushy peddlers dead in their tracks, all you have to do is just say no!! I know the answer seems to sound negative, but sometimes a NO is necessary in life. Imagine if you were to say YES to this, YES to that, and YES to everything. Chances are that you would become overwhelmed with things you never really wanted in the first place.

Am I telling you to say NO to everything that comes your way? Not really. If you were to say NO to everything, you would be closing the door to something that is potentially good!! So you may want to use the power of the NO at your best convenience. Weigh things out first before you actually give an answer. See if it benefits you in the long run. You can make a clearer decision that way.

I have been one of those people that say YES to almost everything and it has reached the point where I got swamped with too much!! It not only cost me financially, but also timely. Now, I am a bit more careful in saying YES or NO to an opportunity. I now weigh decisions and find out if the opportunities are even worthy. If it is, I will go for it. If not, I will take a pass. It is just that simple!!

The power to say either YES or NO does not lie in the person selling you the mega-isa-superty duper products – it only lies in you!! You have the ability, power, and motivation to decide where you want to go. Whether it is a YES or NO, the decision is all up to you and no one else!! YOU HAVE THE POWER!!

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Saturday, December 12, 2009

The Three Year Vision

Greetings Happy People,

Have you ever had a vision that became real?

I had visions that became real on different occasions. Some are big while others are small. Some happen within days while others happen in years. There was one vision I had that took three years to materialize. What was it? Well, let me take you back to 2005.

At the time, I served as the Area D-5 Governor for District 33 Toastmasters. I managed four different clubs in the Las Vegas Valley: New Life Trailblazers (an upstart church club), Starmasters (my home Toastmasters club), To Your Health (a club that meets at the Southern Nevada Health District), and Vocal Vegans (a club that meets at the Clark County Government Center).

During the middle of my term, I noticed something interesting about Toastmasters clubs in different government entities. They have clubs in city, county, and federal levels of government. However, there was none at the State level. It was from that time I realized that someone needs to create a Toastmasters club for State employees.

The first time I told my ideas to different people at work, they brushed it off. Many thought that it would not last. They also thought that I was wasting people’s time with this idea. I first put up fliers to see if I could garner any interest in creating this club. No one showed up. I could have given up at that point, but somehow I did not. Instead, I found another route to take for this state
Toastmasters club to work.

In 2006, I served a second year as the Area D-5 Governor and I also became a Club Coach for one of the clubs I managed, the Vocal Vegans Toastmasters – the club that met at the Clark County Government Center. I worked with a great person and dynamic leader named Elonda. Together, we talked about different strategies on how to build up membership at Vocal Vegans. We did a public relations blitz, contacted different people, and took part in workshops. Slowly but surely, Vocal Vegans started to grow.

During the growth process of Vocal Vegans, I came across a good idea. Since Vocal Vegans was enjoying good growth inside of the County government, why not bring a few State employees to that club? At lunchtime, I put Vocal Vegans fliers at the Grant Sawyer building to see how many state employees would show up in Vocal Vegans. This time, I got people from the state not only to check out Vocal Vegans, but actually join the club!! This was the crack in the door needed to startup the club at the state level!! Thanks to that extra growth - Vocal Vegans became a Select Distinguished Club, I was given a Club Coach certificate AND Distinguished Toastmaster status - the highest honor any individual Toastmaster can get worldwide!!

About a year and a half later, I asked the state employees about the idea of starting up a club at the State level. They thought it was a great idea. So we got to work and started creating a club at the Grant Sawyer State building. I put in my own seed money for the chartering fee while other people were securing a meeting room and passing the word all around. All that work paid off when we got together to host a demonstration meeting. On May 19, 2008 – The Silver State Toastmasters officially had their first meeting!! YAY!! Six months later, they officially became a Toastmasters club!! Ironically, they chartered as a Toastmasters club the same time I was serving as Division D Governor for District 33 Toastmasters!! After all this time, my own vision for this club, FINALLY became real!! It was a great feeling to see this actually happen.

Now Silver State Toastmasters is a small, but mighty club. We have been meeting at the Grant Sawyer building for a year and a half and there are State employees taking advantage of improving their public speaking skills. Every time I go to that club I am reminded of what it took to actually create it. To actually check out the club, just go to the following link (http://silverstate.freetoasthost.biz).

If you ever have a vision, never give up on it!! You will never know the huge impact you will make from a single thought. Anything can take place, all you need to go is have that idea and just follow it through no matter what. You can make things happen when you think, believe and achieve!!

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Sink or Swim

Greetings Happy People,

For this latest blog, I want you to imagine the following scenario…
You are swimming across a pond. You want to get from point A to point B. Everything is going well and you are making great progress getting to your destination.

Now, I want you to imagine swimming with weights on you legs. Not easy huh?

Next, I want you to imagine swimming with weights on your legs and arms. It gets harder huh?

Finally, I want you to imagine swimming with weights on your legs, arms, and neck. Chances are that you will not be swimming at this point. Instead, you are starting to drown!!

As you have these weights on you while you are swimming, you notice that it gets harder and harder to get to your destination. You cannot kick, you cannot move your arms, and you even cannot move your head!! Just when things could not get worse, you notice that the weights are pulling you deeper into the water - causing you to drown.

You now have two choices on what to do. Would you keep the weights on your body and let them drown you? Or would you get rid of the weights and swim towards your destination? I don’t know about you all, but I rather go for the latter.

It does not matter if it happens at work, relationships, or anything else in life, we have weights that prevent us from getting to where we want to go. The more weights piled on us, the more difficult it is to go forward. While it may be easy to blame other people or things that give us this difficulty, we must remember that the first person we must blame is the one looking in the mirror. After all, we did make the choice to have these weights on us.

After we realize that we are responsible for the weights we put on ourselves, we must act like “Lions” and find ways to remove it. It does not matter if it is one by one or a simple swipe, in order to go forward, we must let go of whatever is bringing us down. This may sound hard to do, but we have to ask ourselves if we really want to get to that destination. The choice is up to us and no one else.

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Monday, December 7, 2009

Dana Lynn

Greetings Happy People,

For my next blog, I want to share the following poem with you. It is entitled, "Dana Lynn."

There were nights I stood alone
Hoping for someone to come to me soon
Every night I made a wish that was known
Pondering at the bright, white moon

Underneath the star-filled skies
Reality from a wish that came to me
Pleasing the sight of these lonely eyes
Lies a lady that I longed to see

Ever so nice and so sweet
Pleasing to the heart and mind
Especially the first time we would meet
Never I met a woman so kind

Grateful for her since the first day
Understanding this has made me grin
I am thankful for meeting this wonderful lady
Naturally, she is named Dana Lynn

This poem was given to Dana at her 40th Birthday Party last Saturday. When she read these words, it made her feel good yet a little emotional too!!

It was a tricky poem to write. Why? Not only because of the rhyming scheme, but also the placing of different letters. What could I mean by this? Well, I want you to look at the first letter of each line and it reveals the nickname Dana is most commonly known as. Interesting huh?

As mentioned before in the blogs, I dabbled in a little poetry. Some of my stuff range from good to GOOD LORD!! In this case, it made a difference in the life of a "Purple Penguin." HECK!! That made me feel pretty good too!!

Have you had a story that is similar to this? How did it make you feel? How did it make the other person feel? Well, if it makes the both of you feel good, that's GREAT!! Doing something nice for someone makes a difference. It does not have to cost millions of dollars to make a person happy. All it takes is some time and a little bit of caring. When you have those two things, it can go a long way!!

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Sunday, November 29, 2009

This just in...

Greetings Happy People,

When I was 12 years old, I started watching the news. For me, it was a vehicle to know what was going on in the world. I remember watching the big three news anchors delivering their stories to the American public. Tom Brokaw was the NBC anchorman, Dan Rather was the CBS anchorman, and the late Peter Jennings was the ABC anchorman. For more of my news fix, I would click over to cable channel 22 and watch CNN Headline News.

The late eighties were one of the most interesting times to watch the news because you had plenty of history happening right on your television screen. Think about it, it was the time when the Berlin Wall fell down, a lone man stood in front of tanks at Tiananmen Square in China, the drama of the Iran-Contra trial unfolded in front of the American public, the changing of the guard at the White House, and a huge earthquake rocking the Bay Area during the World Series. Those were some of the events that happened during that era. And for an early teenager to see this in front of his eyes, it was amazing.

Now the news is not too interesting to watch. It seems that when I turn to a news channel, it brings nothing but bad or worse news. One of the things that make it bad is the inundated spin on a few channels. Some proclaim “fair and balanced” issues while the other would just bring “news and views.” No matter how you slice it, there seems to be more bad news today than days before. Heck, one would probably swear that the end of the world was really coming in 2012 – just like the recently released film.

With the latest quality of news going deeper into the depressing dumps, I decided to do something different, watch and read less news stories. This was something that I started for myself 6 months ago, and it has worked pretty well for me. I noticed that I don’t get as stressed as I used to when I watched the news. I get better sleep at night and wake up more refreshed in the morning. And I also seem to carry a more positive upbeat mood too!!

I also noticed the environment around me that continue to have their heads either in a newspaper, on a computer, or in front of a television. It does not matter if it is at home, work, or any other place; the people that get inundated by these latest events are the same ones that are letting it get to them.

I admit that sometimes I glanced at the headlines, but I don’t get as enwrapped in the stories like I used to. The only time where I would get enwrapped into a newspaper is to check out the latest sports scores or the comics (Drabble, Born Loser, Hi and Lois, Hagar the Horrible, and Garfield are pretty funny).

Instead of drowning in the latest depressing news stories, I’d just go out and live my life the best way I know how. Heck, I experience my own adventures that are not covered on a CNN, Fox News Channel, or that gaudy E! Channel. As a substitute, I rather focus on something that the latest news channels rarely do – be upbeat. Hey! When one is happy, it sort of makes life easier to live. And that’s the way it is Sunday November 29th 2009.

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Friday, November 27, 2009

Dreaming to Dare

Greetings Happy People,

I just woke up from an interesting dream. I was at the multipurpose room at the old campus of Bishop Gorman High School. With a 5’6” (and 160 lb. frame) I stood next to a bunch of people that were taller than me. I tried out for the Junior Varsity basketball team. Even though I did not make the cut, I had great experiences trying out.

Like many tryout sessions, I went through some drills, made a couple of shots, and met some new people during the whole process. The following year, I tried out for the football team. Like my tryout experience with basketball, I went through a few drills and met some more cool people. Even though I gave what I could, I did not make that team either.

While it may seem certain that I would not have a bright career in athletics, I knew that there was something else that I would be good at. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I felt very thankful for not having a one track mind. I knew that there was something more to life than tossing a ball through a hoop or running down a field. All I had to do was find out and try other things. Thanks to a few open doors, I participated in the mixed chorus and Kiwanis Key Club (a student-led organization whose goal is to teach leadership through serving others). Both experiences were just as good as trying out for the football and basketball team. Little did I know at the time, it was only the tip of the iceberg.

When I got to UNLV, I knew that my interest in playing with numbers would take me to Engineering school. During my studies at UNLV (well before I discovered a certain public speaking organization), I honed my writing skills. It was the Fall semester in 1993 and I was taking an English A class. There I met a Criminal Justice student named Jason. He showed me the different techniques and writing styles that gave those extra punches to my term papers. Jason knew a thing or two about writing himself. Later in his life, he wrote a best-selling book that was relevant to his major.

As for me, I used my writing skills not only to write some pretty good term papers. I also used my writing skills to dabble into poetry and later turn into something called a “blog.” Hmmm, interesting huh??

Finding my own discoveries did not end at high school or college. As a matter of fact, I am still discovering more things for myself. Some are good and some I probably would not touch with a 20-foot pole. For each discovery I learn, the experience follows. Imagine if I had a one track mind in high school. Chances are that I would not get as far as I did. Heck, I would not be sitting here at 2 o’clock in the morning writing this message to all you happy people. It does not hurt to know what you are good at. It only hurts not knowing what you are able to do. When opportunity beckons you to try something out, GO FOR IT!! You never know the outcome unless you take those steps for yourself.

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Red and Black: The Chip Theory

Greetings Happy People,

Before I get started on my latest blog, I want you to think of two different people.

The first person I want you to think about is someone you can really count on. Someone that is there for you. Someone you can rely on in clutch moments. And someone that is dependable, reliable, and trustworthy. Think of the person you know that takes action in whatever they do. It could be a friend, a romantic partner, or someone at work. Do you have that person in mind? Good!!

Now I want you to think of another person. I want you to think of someone that you cannot rely upon. Someone that talks a good game, but never delivers. Someone that flakes out on every moment in your life. Someone that is irresponsible, unreliable, and downright shady. Think of the person you know that will not do anything to help you out. It could be an ex-lover, a former friend, or someone at work. Do you have that person in mind? Good!!

Now when you think of these two people, you will notice a great disparity between them. One is in a positive light, while the other is in negative darkness. While one puts you into the black, the other will have you seeing red. The more these two people do their things, the further the distance they are from each other. What would be a good way to describe this philosophy? How about “THE CHIP THEORY.”

The Chip Theory is something that can be defined in the following banking ideology. If one person does something good, they will establish credit. The more good that person does, the more credit that person will establish. People with stronger credit will not only look good to other people, but also look good to themselves. They are the ones you can rely on to get the job done.

Unfortunately, the Chip Theory has a negative aspect. If one person does something bad, they will establish a debt. The more bad that person does, the greater the debt will become. People with negative credit will have a tendency not to be relied upon. They will be seen as negative, doubtful, and undependable. Hence, they will be the ones you cannot trust to do anything!!

No matter where you are, no matter what you do, you can see the Chip Theory in action. Whether it is in your life or someone else’s, you will notice the people that either have the strong debt or the stronger credit. If you are in any form of management, you will get a better understanding of this message. Why? Because they can determine the type of team you will have. If you have a team with positive credit, you will have success. If you have a team with negative credit, you will have failure.

If you are a person with bad credit, does this mean that you will stay there for the rest of your life? OF COURSE NOT!! You can get out of the red and into the black!! How? Just make those simple steps to earn your credibility. Do the right things, be responsible in your actions, and just stay the course. Once you do this over, and over, and over again, you will find yourself in the black as soon as you think.

So if you know someone that is always reliable, dependable, and is ready to get any job done, always keep them in your favor. They will be the ones that will help you get to where you want to - you no matter where the CHIPS lie. As long as you are able to master and understand this theory, you will live way better than you even expect to.

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Monday, November 16, 2009

Beyond the Cloudy Borders

Greetings Happy People,

Last Saturday, Dana and I were talking about a movie we wanted to see, “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.” We looked for this movie in theatres all over the Las Vegas Valley. Unfortunately, no theaters were playing this movie. As we were going to lunch, Dana was searching for the nearest theatre that had this movie. Through sheer determination, we managed to find a theater that was still playing “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.” It was in Los Angeles. As Dana was about to feel disappointed, I asked her this simple question….

“Are there any theaters in Mesquite playing this movie?”

For those people that do not know where Mesquite is, it is a town in Nevada that is 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas. She looked for theaters that played this movie and luckily there was one theater that still had this movie!! I don’t know about you happy people, but driving to Mesquite is WAY better than driving to Los Angeles for just a movie. Once we found out that “Cloudy” was still playing in Mesquite, we decided to go up there tomorrow and see the movie.

Yesterday we woke up, got our things together, and headed out to Mesquite. Little did we knew, we were in for a nice adventure that day. We drove northbound on Interstate 15 and had a couple good stops along the way. We drove through places like Hidden Valley, Glendale, and the Moapa Indian Reservation. When we got to Mesquite, we still had a couple hours before the movie actually started. Feeling curious, I decided to go to a few places I never been to. It is very surprising what one could find on the other side of the border.

Mesquite is right next to the Arizona state line. Of all the times I have been to Mesquite, I have never been across that border to see what was on the other side. Why? I have no idea. I wanted to see what was there, but never had the opportunity – until that moment. I drove into Arizona and was pretty fortunate that I did. Within the thirty mile trek along Interstate 15, I saw some interesting places. One of which was a set of mountains located in the Virgin River Gorge. As I drove through the mountains, all I can say is “Whoa!! This is amazing!!” Dana mentioned that if I liked the mountains, wait until I see Zion!! We got about as far as St. George, Utah before heading back to Mesquite. I have never set foot in Utah until that moment. Going beyond those borders was a breathtaking moment for me!!

As we made it back to Mesquite, we still had enough time to get back to the theater that played “Cloudy.” When we got to the parking lot, no one was there. We thought that the movie theater was closed down and was considering leaving the town. Fortunately, we waited and a few minutes later and the theater opened. We walked into the theater, ordered the tickets and went into the room. We saw the movie “Cloudy” (which was pretty good). The cool part about seeing the movie is that we were the only two people in that room. We laughed, we had fun, and we felt FABULOUS!! When the movie ended, I looked at the happy smile on Dana’s face and realized that the whole experience was 100%....200% worthwhile!! We drove into the desert sunset feeling satisfied from a very awesome day.

What message can be made about this story? Well, if you have a vision…act upon it!! You will never know the feeling of amazement, satisfaction, experience, or accomplishment if you do not take those first steps!! Imagine if Dana and I decided NOT to go to Mesquite. Things would have been different. We would not have experienced the things we had that day!! No matter how great or small, if you have a goal that you want accomplished…JUST GO FOR IT!! The only person that can stop you is YOU!! Once you go beyond your borders, there’s no telling how far you can go!! Just have the vision and step to it!!

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Behind the Community Spirit

Greetings Happy People,

Last night I received an amazing award. I received the Division Governor of the Year award from District 33 Toastmasters – a District that covers Toastmaster clubs in southern Nevada and central California. As I look at this award, many things come to mind. The most important one is feeling happy and grateful to serve this role with awesome people. Whether it is with fellow Division Governors, a District Governor from Texas, a couple of Lt. Governors, the people from the 29 Toastmaster clubs that makeup this Division D Community in Vegas, or the people from other neighboring communities, I really feel fortunate to have them in my life.

Are there are certain goals and accomplishments that can be attributed to this? Yes. Could it be done alone? Not really. In order to be successful in what one does, they must have a well-working community. Without it, reaching and achieving different things would be impossible. When I served as a Division Governor, I have visited all of the 29 clubs in this community. While each one has a different flavor, they all have that same friendly positive spirit.

Ever since I took on my first leadership role in this organization, I focused on three words….community, vision, and fun. Why those three words? It’s pretty simple!! First in order to accomplish great things, you must have, create, and establish a great community. It follows that law of attraction thing where “like attracts like.” You are as good as the community you are serving. Second, you must have the vision. How are you going to get from point A to point B without it? Having the right vision will keep you focused on what you want to do. Third is having the fun. When you have the fun, it makes things easier to get done. Fun leads to positive thinking. Positive thinking leads to doing more. Doing more leads to a better chance at getting to your goals. If you have these three words in your mindset, you will be in great shape to simply get the things you want done. Who knows? You might make a new friend, or two, or twenty :o)

There is no secret to it. Having these three words in my mindset helped me in the Division Governor role I served. It also produced results that were sometimes greater than I even expected. Do you want to know the cool part about this thought? The cool part is the fact that everyone had a stake in what they have done in order for this community to be successful. Whether it is accomplishing a personal goal, or contributing to their respective clubs and areas, no one person can do this alone. It simply takes a fun-spirited community that shares an overall vision.

My wish is that other people outside the Toastmasters community can have this same thought process. Just imagine if that were to happen. We’d be living in a better world than we are right now. Until then, I feel very thankful and grateful to the people I served in my role as a Division Governor. Without them, none of the success would be possible. Thank you :o)

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time, attention, and cooperation.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Create Your Fun!!

Greetings Happy People,

I had a fantastic weekend!! How fantastic you ask? Well let me go over things that transpired within the last four days:

THURSDAY October 29th
- Celebrated being 17 again
- Received some gifts that were handy around the house (TV stand, patio table, two TV trays, new eating utensils, and some bath items)
- Received birthday wishes from lots of cool people in my life
- Helped with some final organization for the District 33 Toastmasters Fall Conference coming up this weekend

FRIDAY October 30th
- Opened a few windows in my place and just let the cool breeze flow in
- Went to see the movie “Fame” with some fellow past and present Division Governors. Fame was a pretty good movie. Great musical scenes, but it had some limited storylines that went all over the place.
- Had strawberry shortcake ice cream at TGI Friday’s after the movie.

SATURDAY October 31st
- Watched the TCU-UNLV football game (despite the 41-0 beating UNLV took at the hands of the Horned Frogs)
- Went to see round 2 of the Professional Bull Riding World Finals at the Thomas and Mack Center with Dana, Denise, and Denise’s mom – YEE HAW!!
- Went to a Halloween after party at Torino’s Bar and Café. After seeing all of those bulls at the rodeo, I ordered a nice juicy hamburger.

SUNDAY November 1st
- Had a Sunday Brunch with Dana at the Orleans Hotel & Casino. They had lots of great seafood there
- Took a nice stroll at the new M hotel and Casino – very nice!!
- Created another strawberry concoction!!

Sounds like an interesting weekend huh? Well, ever since I took on this way of thinking, things really opened up for me. I became more positive in my outlook. I realized that the only person that can REALLY make things FUN is me and no one else. And I also realize that I can also create more fun not only for myself, but for other people around me. All I have to do is just step forward and just make it happen!!

The simple message I have for you tonight is to create your own fun. You really don’t have to be analytical about it!! You don’t have to wait for your birthday weekend!! HECK!! You don’t have to wait for the weekend!! All it takes is for you to step up, think positively, and just do it!! Remember, all the fun you have truly comes from within!! You got to believe it, find it, and just let it out. Once you realize that, you will have more fun, frivolity, and happiness than you can imagine!! Only you can make it work!!

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Step Up to the Stage!!

Greetings Happy People,

Yesterday, I sat in a meeting room with a group of people. They were speaking Spanish to each other. While I heard majority of the conversations, I could barely understand what was being discussed. When one person asked me a question in Spanish, I stood up and gave an answer that reminded me how rusty my Spanish was.

As I was about to give the answer, my nerves were shaking, my stomach was churning, and my brain said “huh?” I felt like sweating both internally AND externally. With great trepidation, I gave my answer the best way I knew how. What happened? Did the people laugh? Did they make fun? Did they talk me down? Not really. Instead I got a positive response from the people in that room!! Why did I get this positive response? Because I stepped up to the stage and tried something a bit out of my element.

After I gave my answer, people were showing me the words I was being asked. Some of them helped me out in their own English tongue. It was totally incredible to find this many helpful people in one place. Had I not stepped up to the stage, I probably would not get the same response as I did. Thanks to this act, I knew what to improve for next time.

Whether it is speaking in Spanish, learning to swim, or doing something else beyond our comfort levels, we all must step up to the stage and give our best efforts!! In order for one to be successful, they must take those first steps and grow through the process. Without growth, how can we learn to succeed?

For some people, they fear failing at what they do. For others, they do not want to be embarrassed. For more people, they figure that someone else might do things better than them and just won’t give it a try. When it comes to someone trying something different and about to quit after the first attempt, the only advice I can give to them is to simply not shortchange themselves. If one wants to get better at what they do, they will find many ways to improve.

Successful people have stepped up to many different stages on a repetitive basis. They faced ridicule, embarrassment, and all of the negative things that can happen. Did they give up? Of course not!! If they were to give up on what they want accomplished, they would not be successful at what they do. Furthermore, it is important to know that for every discouragement that takes place, there is also encouragement too!! No one person is alone at each attempt at greatness.

So if you are a person that is trying something outside of you comfort zone, always remember that it is okay to step up to the stage and give the best performance you can!! Who knows, you may be a bigger success than you think!!

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention!!

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Thursday, October 22, 2009

The Ol' Man

Greetings Happy People,

Two years ago, I was coming in from lunch. I get an announcement from one of my co-workers to call my mother at the hospital. She also said to have my co-worker drive me over there. Somehow I knew that this was not going to be good. When we got to the hospital, my mother told me that my dad suffered a massive heart attack and he is fighting for his life in ICU. When I went into the room, I saw him hooked up to lots of tubes and breathing apparatus. When I left that room, knowing that I could lose my dad at any moment. There was not a dry eye at that place.

A few days later, I was driving from one of my sister’s house when I was injured in a pretty bad car accident. I had a few dizzy spells and some injury to parts of the vertebrae. A couple days after that, I was able to walk over to the hospital to see my dad – not in best fashion myself. Knowing that he suffered a massive heart attack, I tried to pretend that I was walking fine. I went into the ICU, talked to him a bit, and let the room. Upon leaving the room, my dad asked what the heck was wrong with me. Did I lose a fight or something? It was at that point, I knew he was going to be alright.

When I was born thirty-four years ago (on October 29th), my dad came from an assignment in the US Navy to see the birth of yours truly. Everybody thought I was going to be born a girl. WHOOPS!! I guess that did not happen :o)

When I was a kid, I remember having those nice talks with the ol’ man. That still goes on to this day. Whatever the topic was, we discussed it. Between him and my mother, he was more the reasonable, level-headed person to talk to. When we were living up in Seattle, I remember going to my first NBA (Supersonics) and MLB (Mariners) game. I also remember playing at a nearby park. Whenever we travel or move across country, I would be in the seat behind him navigating as best as I can. There was also a moment where he saved me from a pitbull attack. He stood in the line of attack and took the bite from the dog. I also remember going to UNLV football games with him. There were many great memories I had with him.

Today, he still remains a voice of reasoning. Throughout the dysfunctional things that can happen, he still stays a strong figure to my family. I still talk to him about different things that are mostly sports related. Even though the effects from diabetes are taking a toll on his body, he still remains a tough man. He knows that when it comes to this disease, he is going to fight it and still come out on top.

I am very grateful to have a man like him in my life. I can honestly say if there are any people that made a real impact in my life. He will be one of those people up on the top of my list – along with my grandmother (his mom). He will always be known to me as “the ol’ man” and I will never forget that when I become an older man myself.

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

The Turnaround

Greetings Happy People,

Recently, I came across a very negative person. You might say that this person goes beyond the requirements of being a “Perpetual Victim.” As a matter of fact, this person’s personality is so negative is goes beyond any toxic levels known to any human being. How negative you ask? Well, this person would not only be in a constantly negative state, but at times in angry, surly, and truculent moods. From the way things sound, this person has been a “Perpetual Victim” since birth. No matter how many time one tried to reason with this person, negative attitudes, thoughts, and sayings would always spew out.

For a certain amount of time I dealt with this person. I dealt with the loud mouth, the verbal assault, and the quick hot temper. Until one day, I stopped and realized that I really don’t have to deal with it. Therefore, I walked away from that environment for something less toxic.

Ever since I made that move, I feel a lot better. I am now hanging with more positive people and some cool friends. I am taking advantages of different opportunities. I am now doing what I want to do. And do you know the cool part about this? For each positive thing I do or experience, more positive energy will come towards my direction!! You can say that I am creating my own world for the better.

Compare this to the subject I have dealt with - the person full of negative energy. For every act of belligerence this person displays, more negativity will come to this person’s direction. For every bad mouth conversation that happens, more negativity will come along. For every bad thought that happens….well you can guess what will come in return.

While all this negativity is being attracted towards this person, all the positivity is more than likely to go away. It will get to the point where this person will be buried under so much negativity, that it will be hard to escape. Why? Because this person is abysmally deep in it!!

So if you find yourself dealing with someone that has a toxic attitude, get away from that person!! Only you have the power to do that!! Align yourselves with more positive people in your life!! Once you make this turnover for yourself, you will be surprised with your own outcome…..in a good way of course!!

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention!!

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

What Goes Down...Must Come Up!!

Greetings Happy People,
It is hard to believe that I took my first Physics class 15 years ago. I remembered the time when I first walked into the classroom not knowing what to expect. I never took this class when I was in high school. So you can say that I was at a real disadvantage. During my first lesson in Engineering Physics I, I managed to learn a few things: statics, dynamics, and Newton’s laws. Additionally, I also learned about projectile movements, forces, velocities, and accelerations. When I finished that semester, I did well enough to take the class again. That’s right, I had to repeat it.

The second time I took the class, I knew more things that I missed the first time. It gave me an advantage on how certain things connect with each other. I passed that class and went on to Engineering Physics III. When I first took Engineering Physics III, I thought I was way over my head. We covered topics ranging from Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Optics, and Phasors (no not the Star Trek variety). How rough was the first class? Well, let’s just say that the average on the first test was 38 out of 100%. The highest score was a 78. The lowest score was a 2. That’s right a 2!! You can say that me and other people had to take that class again.

When I took the class a second time, I thought I was ready. I not only took this class before, but I also took a bunch of engineering courses that were relevant to this class. Did it help me get through this rigid course? It did. Did I have to take it over again? Yes. Apparently it was not a wise idea to take what you learned in engineering class to a Physics course.

When it was time to take this Engineering Physics III course for the third time, I was ready!! I knew the thermodynamic laws. I knew the heat transfer equations. I knew the optics calculations. And by golly my knowledge on phasors were set to stunning. This time I PASSED THE COURSE – WHOOPEE!!

This was just an example on how we can succeed by failing. We go through things many times in order to get them right. Imagine if I were to quit the first time around. Chances are that I would not get as far as I did. For each time we fail, we must never beat ourselves and just learn how we can improve from it. There were many leaders and innovators that went through many failing projects before they succeeded!! We must learn to fail before we succeed. It is the only way we can become better in what we do. If we never failed, we never tried.

So if you have something you would like to accomplish and keep running into that failing wall, DON’T GIVE UP!! Instead, just learn what did not work and take different steps to get to your goals. You will be better off in the long run.

That is all I have to say. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Monday, October 12, 2009

What's My Name?

Greetings Happy People,

Throughout my life I have been known by many nicknames. Back in Virginia, my family nicknamed me Spoogy. On my dad’s side of the family in Arkansas, they called me Spoogum. When I moved to Vegas, I’ve had many nicknames. In junior high, I was known as Smokey. At high school, I was known as Jes-Dog. In college, I never really had a nickname to go by. Sometime after college, I was known as Oakley guy, Oak, and JO3. While all of these nicknames are interesting, there is one that seems to stand out pretty well.

If you are in the Toastmaster circuit, you would know that my nickname is Jesse Oakley I-I-I (or simply I-I-I). How in the world did I end up with that nickname? Well, it started when I was attending my first meetings at Starmasters Toastmasters. As they were handing out the programs, I noticed that my name was misspelled (Jessie Oakley III). When it was time to introduce myself, I would commonly spell out my name. It went something like this….

“Fellow Toastmasters and most welcomed guests, my name is Jesse (J-E-S-S-E) Oakley (O-A-K-L-E-Y) the third (I-I-I).”

Due to countless repetition, the introduction was about to run its course at that club. Somehow that same introduction caught on when I first became an Area Governor. At my first contest, I gave that same introduction and people manage to catch on real quick. Next thing I knew that it went from Area level, to Division level, to District level. It has got to the point where if you were to ask about “I-I-I” at any local Toastmasters club here in Vegas, they would know who you are talking about. Even though there are STILL people who commonly misspell my name, I really like being known as “I-I-I.” You can say that it is my I-I-I-dentity.

Throughout my life, I had the following people misspell my name in many ways. The first way was Jessie Oakley III. There were also other interesting ways to misspell my name.

Jessy Oakley III

Jesse Oaklay III

Jessie Oakaley III

Jessye Oakley III

Jesy Oklwy – yes the smart people UNLV once spelled my name like that!!

Oh the many ways to misspell my name. No matter how many people can attempt to spell your name, it is always interesting to have a nickname. It seems that people know you well by the different nickname you go by. When you look back at your nickname, it reflects the fonder memories of life. That is what I get from the different nicknames I had. I would not be surprised forty years from now I will still be known as I-I-I. And like many nicknames before, this one will also give me fond memories too!!

That is all I have for now. Thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse (J-E-S-S-E) Oakley (O-A-K-L-E-Y) the third (I-I-I)

Monday, October 5, 2009

When Is It Enough?

Greetings Happy People,

For this blog, I would like to take this to a different level and talk about something a little bit out of my element. How out of my element? Well let’s just say that when I am done here, you probably know what’s on my mind.

Like many people, I like to go out and have fun. Sometimes it entails a drink or two. I can only drink what I can handle. If I can’t, I would prefer to have a designated driver with me.

Amidst the good time, merriment, and fun, there are people that just take it way over the line. They would have drinks more than they have meals in a day. I don’t know about you, but I think that is a problem.

Alcoholism is a disease and an addiction that affects a whole environment. The sad part is that so many people that get to this level of drinking don’t know that they have a problem until it is too late. Whether it is a loss of job, home, family relationships, or life, people are affected by this disease.

And the effects just don’t happen on the outside. It can happen inside the body too. Major internal damages are also done by drinking too much alcohol such as cirrhosis of the liver, pancreas inflammation, dementia, brain damage, strokes, heart disease, and in worse cases death. Many alcoholics would keep drinking to the point where they become “perpetual victims” to these ailments.

And like the perpetual victims, you have two types of people that deal with these alcoholics: the people that walk away from them and the people that do not. The ones that do not walk away are often annoyed by the following alcoholic antics – begging for change, creating unnecessary drama, listening to excuses and copouts, and sometimes mental and physical abuse. The people that walk away from it know that enough is enough. They are the “perpetual lions.”

Fortunately, there is help out there for people that drink way beyond their limits. Right now, I will give you the following places that are more than happy to help someone struggling with this addiction:

Alcoholics Anonymous (http://www.aa.org)

Al Anon/Alateen (http://www.al-anon.alateen.org)

Life-Ring Secular Recovery (http://www.lifering.org)

Moderation Management (http://www.moderation.org)

These sites are only to be used if the alcoholic really needs to take that first step. Forcing this information down their throats will do not them any good. For this to work effectively, alcoholics need to make their own steps to this progress.

Why am I discussing something like this to you happy people? You can say that I have some personal experience in this matter. No, it is not me. Let’s just say I have had a few relatives that fell to this addiction. It wiped away their jobs, relationships with family & friends, and their freedom!! Others have also paid the ultimate price with their lives.

If there was a magic wand that can be used to cure the extreme levels of alcoholism, I would use it in a heartbeat. Until that day comes, I can only hope that these people say to themselves that they had enough…..and just walk a step closer to sobriety for everyone.

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Don't Quit!!

Greetings Happy People,

Most of you know that I am involved with Toastmasters International, a non-profit educational organization dedicated in helping people improve their communication, public speaking, and leadership skills. For the past 14 years, I encountered many experiences as a speaker and leader. One experience that stood out for me happened at the Spring 2008 District Conference in Ventura, California.

Back then, I was elected to serve as a Division Governor for the 2008-2009 year and met a gentleman who gave me two encouraging words that stuck to me. He said “Don’t Quit!!” The gentleman that told me those words was Don Ensch.

Don has been a Toastmaster for 51 years. He has served in many leadership roles from the club level to an International Director on the Toastmasters International Board. He is a Distinguished Toastmaster and one of a few Accredited Speakers in this organization. He also met the man that told him the same two words he told me – the founder of Toastmasters International, Dr. Ralph Smedley (1878-1965).

Thanks to the words given by Mr. Ensch, I managed to have a pretty successful year as a Division Governor!!

When it comes to achieving any type of goal, these are the two most powerful words that we must hear on a constant basis. Yes there will be those times when we fall down. There will also be those times where we feel the disappointment in not reaching that desired point. While it sounds easy to give up all hope, we must not!! Instead we must replace those feelings of despair with feeling of all out hope!!

Reaching our goals without quitting proves that we can just do it. It also proves that we are more powerful than we actually are. When we choose not to quit, we will come out on top!!

Face it!! If I were to quit on many things in life, I would not be where I am right now. I would not have the career I have. I would not have met my girlfriend. I would not have finished college. I really would not have lived life. When we quit, we shortchange ourselves on different opportunities that come across the horizon. When we quit, we lose not only the respect of the people around us, but also ourselves.

So if you have a goal that you are trying to achieve and are near wits end, remember never to give up. You will be better off in the long run!!

That is all I have for today. Thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Wish Upon a Star

Greetings Happy People,

“When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are. Anything your heart desires will come to you.” – Jiminy Cricket

Last night, I went on a nighttime stroll at a nearby park. During my walk, I looked at the sky and something hit me. I realized that the many times I looked at the star-filled sky and wished for something, it became real. No matter how long it took, IT BECAME REAL!!

To prove this, I will give you the following examples.

The first example involves the current relationship with my girlfriend. When I was lonely, I looked up to the sky and wish for a nice companion to spend time with. I imagined holding hands with someone in a light rain shower. I imagined feeling the warmth of a hug accompanied with soft kisses. I also imagine having a relationship where no outside influence can mess it up. I have been on many dates where that did happen. When the opportunity came seventeen months ago, I had the courage to take the first step and ask Dana out. What happened after that was seventeen months of happiness I would not trade for anything in the world.

The next example I have involves a three-year vision. I currently work for a government agency and I am also involved in Toastmasters. Within other government agencies, I noticed that they had different Toastmaster clubs. Time after time I asked myself why there wasn’t one in my workplace? One night, I looked in the star-filled sky, made a wish to have a club in my workplace, and made all type of efforts to make it happen. Throughout the journey, I had naysayers telling me that it would not work. I also had lack of cooperation from people that were flaky. But in the end, I finally got the club into the government agency I work for. It feels good to get something like this accomplished. Thanks to a simple wish, many people from this government agency benefited from this club. My only wish now is that more people in this agency take advantage of improving their speaking skills. With the way things are going, I would not be surprised if that happens in the future.

The final example I have was keeping in touch with people I have seen in a while. Again I looked up in the sky and not only wished for that, but also what some of them are doing right now. All I got to say is thank goodness for two things: Facebook and Third Thursday. Without them, I would not know if I would come in contact with a quarter of the people I am talking and writing to right now!! It is simply amazing!!

As I looked at the star-filled sky last night, I made more wishes. What were they? Was it something that involved my career? Was it something that will make me better off? Was it something that more people can benefit from? I will not tell you what they are. All I can do is keep wishing upon the same stars in the sky. Whatever I wished for will certainly come my way. When it comes, you will know :o)

Wishing upon a star is nothing new, but somehow it works. If you have anything that you would like to see happen for you, don't be afraid to go out at night and wish upon the stars in the sky. Who knows? Someone or something may answer back!!

“When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are. Anything your heart desires will come to you.”

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Always Have a PLAN B!!

Greetings Happy People,

Today I am getting ready for a Division level Toastmaster contest. This contest is to determine which contestant are the best evaluator and humorous speaker at this level of competition. These contestants competed and won at their respected club and area level competitions. It will take place today 6:30pm at the CSN Cheyenne Campus – Morse Arberry Telecommunications Bldg. Admission is $10 for one person ($15 for two people). If you have time to stop by today’s competition, please feel free to do so.

Why am I promoting this contest and what message could I possibly give in this blog? Well, this contest almost became a disastrous mess. How you ask? Well, let me take you back to last Wednesday. We were scheduled to have this contest at another venue. When the chair of this contest wanted to do a walkthrough of the place, the people at that venue would not let her do so. Why? The person that scheduled to have the contest at that venue was fired AND the current people won’t let us hold the contest there. Could this have been a panic moment? Yes!! However, it did not feel that way. The current Division D Governor, and my successor, Narayanan (pronounced na-RYE-un) looked for different options on a new venue. Later that afternoon, he found another venue to hold this contest. YAY!!

A crisis was averted and the contest was saved!! This story reminded me of what I went through back in the spring of 2006. At that time, I served as an Area Governor. I was getting ready to host an Area level contest scheduled for that March. Two months earlier, I secured a venue to hold my contest. At that time I asked if someone was going to open the doors, they said that the scheduled “Sharon” to open the doors for me that day. One month before the contest, I asked the same question, they gave the same answer. As I did my own walkthrough the day before the contest, I asked the same people if “Sharon” was going to open the doors for me tomorrow. They said no problem.

On the day of my contest, I encountered problems. It was Saturday afternoon. The outside temperature was 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The time was 3:00pm and “Sharon” did not show up to open the doors.

3:00pm became 3:30pm – no “Sharon” in sight.

3:30pm became 4:00pm – still no “Sharon” in sight.

4:00pm became 4:30pm – Sharon STILL has not arrived. At this time 40 people including myself were waiting out in the cold for her to open up the doors. It was at that point I decided to look for a PLAN B. Fortunately, a friend of mine named Deecie offered her house to have the Area Contest. Making a BIG game time decision, I accepted the offer!!

As I was driving over the Deecie’s house, I was disheartened and disappointed with the people at the venue. I was going to feel hot-headed, but I was too cold to even do that. When I got to Deecie’s house, I saw about 10 people at her place. But before I believe this contest was a complete disaster, 30 more people showed up!! Yes, these were the same people that waited in the cold with me at the other place. Talk about your miraculous moment!! Despite what was thrown at us, we STILL had a successful contest that day!!

These two stories are examples on how something can STILL turn out good, despite the odds. How did Narayanan and I pull this off? SIMPLE!! WE BOTH HAD PLAN Bs!! Imagine if we thought things in a one-track mind. We would have experienced disastrous results!! It is always good to have a backup plan when things go awry. One of my favorite things to say is the following:

If PLAN A doesn’t work…..go for PLAN B up your sleeve.

If PLAN B doesn’t work…..go for PLAN C in your back pocket.

If PLAN C doesn’t work…..go for PLAN D in your shoe.

People with different game plans are more likely to get results done. No matter the situation, they always find a way to make things a success. They always find a way to get to their goals. So if YOU are ready to get to where you want to go, make sure you have backup plans for your journey. It will come in handy in the long run!!

That is all I have for now. Thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Saturday, September 19, 2009

A Tale of Two Quarterbacks

Greetings Happy People,

If there are any San Diego fans out there, please forgive me for the example I am about to use.

It was the 1998 NFL Draft. At that time, everybody knew the first two picks in that draft were going to be quarterbacks. The question was which quarterback would be selected first? Would it be the quarterback from the smoky mountains of Tennessee? Or would it be the quarterback from the Evergreen State. Both had led their college teams to great success. While one quarterback played in the Rose Bowl, the other one played in the Orange Bowl. They both did not win the Heisman Trophy, but they were two of the top three candidates in the running. All the accolades, the collegiate success, and the expectation came down to who will be the first pick in that NFL Draft.

Then-NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue walked up to the stage and made the following announcement,

“With the first pick in the NFL Draft, Indianapolis selects….Peyton Manning!!”

Fans cheered this decision as Peyton walked up to the stage to accept his new blue & white jersey with a matching baseball cap.

Minutes later, Commissioner Tagliabue made the following announcement,

“With the second pick in the NFL Draft, San Diego selects……Ryan Leaf!!”

Fans also cheered this decision as Ryan walked up to the stage to accept his jersey and baseball cap.

It seemed that these two quarterbacks were going to be major stars in the NFL for years to come. Unfortunately, it would happen for one of them.

As the season began, both quarterbacks had rough starts. While Peyton developed his skills as a proficient quarterback, Ryan developed headaches for San Diego fans. When Peyton gave professional interviews, Ryan shouted at the media. By season’s end, you know who was bound to have a successful career in the NFL.

Now, let’s fast forward to today. How did these two former college quarterbacks do for themselves? Peyton Manning is currently playing for Indianapolis. He became a three-time NFL MVP. His team won an NFL Championship and he became the MVP of that game. He also was selected to the Pro Bowl 9 times, becoming a Pro Bowl MVP once. He is bound for the NFL Hall of Fame.

As for Ryan Leaf, he unsuccessfully played for teams in San Diego, Dallas, and Tampa Bay. He was going to play for the Seattle, but quit the NFL before his 4th season. He became a quarterbacks coach for a small college in Amarillo, Texas, but had to quit due to a drug scandal. He now faces burglary and drug charges. He is bound for the NFL Hall of Shame.

What was the major difference in these two football players? The answer is in their attitudes. After they got drafted, reporters asked Peyton and Ryan what they are going to do now that they are in the NFL. Peyton responded by saying that he was going to learn the plays and be the best quarterback he can be. Ryan said that he was going to party in Vegas. While Peyton was gaining respect from his teammates, Ryan gained the complete opposite wherever he played. As Peyton received commercial deals, Ryan received “Where are they now” stories. The comparisons between these two are a different as day and night.

You do not have to be an NFL player to experience this positive-negative attitude experience. Just look around you!! It is everywhere!! When I see a negative person, I see someone that is high stressed, rapidly aging, uptight, angry, poor shape, and in a state of paranoia. When I see someone positive, IT’S THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE!!

Whether it is at work or some other facet in my life, I notice that leaders with positive attitudes are easier to work with. Why? Because they bring that same contagious spirit to everyone!! This allows people to work more productive and less people wanting to quit. On the opposite end, you see leaders with negative attitudes bring strife, pain, and hopelessness to everyone.

It is always good to have a positive attitude. It will relieve tension and allow you to do better at whatever you do. Just think it and it will be there. Who knows, you might be an MVP in what YOU do!!

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Thursday, September 17, 2009

The Boomerang Effect

Greetings Happy People,

The following example I have for you is something I really don’t follow, but I think the message behind it is worth the attention.

Last Sunday at the MTV Video Music Awards, two significant things took place. One was horrifying, the other was good. As she walked up to the stage to accept her award for Best Female video, musician Taylor Swift was rudely interrupted by rapper Kanye West. As he yanked the microphone from Ms. Swift, Mr. West proclaimed another music video to be “one of the best videos of all time.” This act of rudeness was jeered by the audience watching the event. From that simple action, he got what he deserved in return – disdain, disrespect, and complete disappointment.

On the other side of the rainbow, we see Beyonce Knowles win an award for Video of the Year. Instead of giving her thank you speech, she called Taylor Swift to complete the thank you speech she did not get a chance to finish. What Beyonce did for Ms. Swift showed respect and integrity. Both Beyonce and Swift earn their kudos for that night and big time respect from the audience.

The example I gave you in this blog is known as The Boomerang Effect. What is it? The Boomerang Effect is an act where you receive what you put out. If you were to do a bad act to someone or something, you are going to get bad fortunes in return. However, if you were to do something good to someone or something, you will get good fortunes in return.

To show how this “Effect” works in everyday life, I give you the following example that happened to me.

Earlier today, I received a mindblowing email message from Barbara, a fellow co-worker from Carson City. She brought to my attention, the story of a person going through a rough time in life. Apparently, this person read something that made his day and thanked Barbara for sharing this message. What was it? It was blog I wrote entitled “Seven Creeds to Success.”

Last week, I had the chance to email this blog message to some people at work. One of the people I sent this to was Barbara. She is a person that does training classes at my workplace. When she received my email, she forwarded it to other people at her workplace. A week later, I got the aforementioned email from her. Apparently, the words I wrote made an impact on the life of someone I did not know. It brightened his day, yet sent chills down my spine. To that, I can only say one word “WHOA!”

The intent of my email was to brighten the spirit and give a positive message to different people. When I threw that “boomerang,” I got something back in return –great feelings and gratitude. The Boomerang Effect was definitely in play.

It does not matter if you are a famous celebrity or someone from down the street. This Boomerang Effect works for everyone!! When we do good deeds for someone, we will get good fortunes in return. Just imagine if more people put this effect into use. Wouldn’t it contribute to a better society? After all, it is important to be nice because whatever we do will come back to us the same way, just like a boomerang!!

That is all I have for you. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Orion's Belt

Greetings Happy People,

When I woke up at 2am today, I went outside for a walk. The temperature was cool. I heard cars zip along US 95. I looked at the sky and saw the moon, clouds, and stars. Of all the constellations I saw, one really stood out. It was Orion’s Belt.

There is something amazing about the three stars that make up the belt of the hunter. It is even more amazing that the constellation remains intact every night. It’s just unbelievable. As I scanned the rest of the star filled night sky, I kept asking myself, "How many stars are out in space?". I am sure that the number is infinite. I also asked myself, "where is the furthest star in the universe?" I am sure that answer is also infinite. We have wondrous technology on this planet, yet we are unable to determine the furthest part of this universe. Nevertheless, we do our best to find out.

This type of exploration has people wondering how far we can go. Whether it is by scientific equations, telescopes, space shuttles, or satellites, we use different means to search for an answer. Big time kudos goes out to those people who dare to discover. It is these people who have no fear in thinking without any limits.

This limitless thinking can also be seen in people that do not work for the likes of NASA. It does not matter if one is a teacher, an engineer, a doctor, or a great leader. People that think without borders are more likely to reach higher, travel further, and go bigger. We are our own starting points. We also determine where our end points will lie.

Unfortunately, there are people that still live with lids above their heads. You know the type; if they were in a mayonnaise jar, they would have a big huge lid above them sealed airtight. Jar people think there is no hope in going beyond their boundaries, climbing out of the jar, so to speak. These individuals deal with the greatest stress, as well, as they exert extra pressure on themselves. If they see someone trying to get out, like crabs in a pot, they do whatever they can to keep the other people inside.

I have heard the following phrase, that is cliché in nature, many times – Think Outside The Box. While these words can be a tool for people wanting to get to their goals, those people must still do one thing….MOVE!! Stepping outside of the box allows us to move closer than merely thinking. Without this, we would just be dreaming instead of doing.

As sure as a satellite can travel across the universe, we can go where borders are infinite. Who knows how far we can go with limitless possibilities? To really know, I will leave that for you to answer.

That is all I have for now. Thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Thursday, September 10, 2009

The Seven Creeds of Success

Greetings Happy People,

I have been rummaging through my notes again and found more mind blowing stuff to share with you today. The following notes I have for you came from a separate lesson I took. Like what my friend wrote in “Some Words of Wisdom” last year, this also can be seen as a benefit for those that read and believe it. The reading I have for you are simply known as the Seven Creeds of Success.

Since finding this, I looked at other sources, read books, attended different workshops, and listened to some CDs on something relevant to this. What I have for you today runs parallel to what successful people told us in the past.

You know what is funny about this? The positive things I experience in the last few years are based on what I envisioned. I also saw this in other people too!! With the way things are going, I have a feeling that this type of experience just is only the tip of the iceberg.

Ladies and gentlemen, I now give you the Seven Creeds of Success:

1. I have the ability to accomplish all that I can do. I know that to succeed, I only have to believe in myself.

2. My thoughts and visions will become real. To ensure this, I will do the following items:

a. Think of what I intend to be,

b. Create a mental picture of this thought

AND

c. Transform this picture into reality.

3. I will study fundamental principles through which I may attract the desirable things in my life. Through this, I will become more positive and be in that state of joy.

4. I will give respect for my fellow individual and become mentally and physically stronger.

5. When it comes to setting goals, I will make sure that I not only start the process, but finish it as well. This will be done by the following steps:

a. Plan all that I wish to do

b. Make a clear picture of it

c. Walk, climb, or create paths to it

AND

d. Let nothing interfere with my plans until I turn them into reality.

6. I fully realize that genuine success will come through the way I treat others. Instead of engaging any action that benefits no one who participates in it, I will do the following:

a. Succeed by attracting to me the resources that I intend to use.

b. Gain the friendship of people due to the kindness and willingness of being a friend myself.

c. Promote courage, develop faith, and cultivate my love for humanity.

7. I will learn to stand up and express myself in clear, concise, and simple language. And to speak in a matter that carries conviction and enthusiasm. In the same breath, I will cause others to become interested in me because I will FIRST become interested in them. This will be done through the spirit of service.

If you found these seven creeds interesting, read them on a daily basis. The more you read them, the more it will make sense. Heck!! After finding and reading this myself, I am starting to understand these creeds. I tell you that this and other things relevant to this are like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle slowly coming together. When you read, believe, and act on these successful creeds, more opportunities will come your way. Just believe it!!

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Monday, September 7, 2009

Lions

Greetings Happy People,

Throughout my blog, I mentioned “The Perpetual Victim” many times. I mentioned what they were, what they did, and how to handle one. There were stories and examples that involved this type of personality. You may say that they got plenty of recognition in the blogs I wrote.

Now, I want to introduce you to something completely opposite -The Perpetual Lion (or “Lion” for short).

Why a lion? When I think of this massive four-legged feline, the following words come to mind: strong, noble, courageous, brave, king of beasts, queen of prides, and majestic. Lions are animals that go wherever they want to go and do whatever they want.

Like the Victim, you also work with people that are known as Lions. You know the type – strong, fearless, confident, and courageous leaders. Someone that is willing to take on any challenge no matter how big or small. They also have a noble personality.

Lions can also be seen as great hunters. Instead of hunting for zebras or wildebeests, these Lions hunt bigger game. They hunt for goals, visions, and other things relevant to their personal development. Instead of feeling caged in, these Lions majestically roam in different paths. And when it comes to making a statement, Lions don’t meow – they ROAR!!

Lions also have a big heart. When something happens to them, they have the ability not only to forgive but also continue to walk to their destination. Compare this to a Victim staying at one place for a long period of time – wallowing in sympathy. Where the Victims won’t grow, the Lions will go!!

Lions are people you can count on. Lions are people you can be proud of. Lions are what you inspire to be. WAIT A MINUTE!! If you fit these qualifications yourself - you may already be a Lion yourself!!

Whether they roam alone, or travel in prides, Lions are the movers and shakers in this world. At work and at Toastmasters, I have seen many Lions in action. These people would go on to do great things for not only their communities, but also for themselves! Lions are the innovators, the motivators, and the encouragers. People like to work with Lions because they aspire to be in that same category themselves.

When you are a Lion, you are unstoppable!!

When you are a Lion, you are powerful!!

When you are a Lion, you climb the highest peaks!!

When you are a Lion…..YOU are a winner!!

The cool part about Lions is that YOU can be one yourself. How, you ask? All you have to do is the following:

1. Take in that energetic thought of being a Lion

2. Start walking the paths with fearless courage

3. Don’t let anything stop you. Even if it is temporary…keep going until you get to your destination.

In no time, YOU will be a king (or queen) in whatever you do!! Just take those steps and BE A LION!!

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Friday, September 4, 2009

Some words of wisdom

Greetings happy people,

I was looking through some things in my computer and found something interesting. This is from a year ago when I had my breakthrough moment. One of my friends wrote this when we attended the same seminar.

To think is to Create……in other words life is what we make of it.

Win-Win……if we live our lives with a win-win attitude we play the best game in life we know how to play, but against ourselves. Let the other people around you play the best game they know how to play and you both win!

"If you are not part of the solution to the problem, you are part of the problem."

I translate this by thinking in my own life if I just sit around and let everything happen then I am the problem. I am not trying to change it. I see people practice this so much. They are the victims and people are always doing things to them! NOT TRUE YOU ARE ALLOWING IT THEREFORE YOU ARE THE PROBLEM! MAKE A CHANGE. LIVE IN A DIFFERENT STORY!

Rules to live by: "Funny these are so simple but most of us don't live this way!"

1. Take responsibility for yourself! We are responsible for our own experiences!
2. Believe in yourself! We are all capable of creating our own dreams!
3. Be, Do, Think and live 100%. We are always contributing, are you contributing positively or negatively because you get back what you put out.

Ancient philosopher Socrates said that in life we begin as a single point of energy. From there we grow and come into a state of stability and from stability we go into a state of decay. Socrates was incorrect and one of his students Plato mastered the theory in saying: In life we start as a single point of energy and go into a state of growth. We stay in a state of growth until we enter a state of decay. There is no such thing as stability. You are either learning new things and growing or staying the same and starting to decay.

"We spend our whole lives trying to achieve stability, when in fact stability is just a mere illusion our minds create."

Live the "I AM" theory. Stop the negative talk in your head. Until this weekend I was unaware of how often I down talked myself in my head. I was constantly putting myself down.

Of course most of this is untrue but some of it is because I have convinced myself of it. I began to believe it because that is what I have been telling myself. Think of what we are capable of if everyday instead of talking down to ourselves we told ourselves things like "I am smart, I am beautiful, I am committed and I will do it!"

I have been living with that thought process for 3 days and I feel like a heavy weight has been lifted. And it was within me to lift it. I have more energy. My mind feels clear and I am not so hard on myself. We need to give ourselves a break!

We need to stop living in the fear that we have created through our programs. Embrace fear and use it as your ally. Use it to motivate you!

"Everyday man crucifies himself between two thieves. Fears of tomorrow and the regrets of yesterday!"

Those were some great words and I am glad to read it. I hope you enjoyed these words as much as I did.

That is all I have for now, take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Sunday, August 30, 2009

The Promotion

Greetings happy people,

“Vision without action is a dream. Action without vision is frenzied activity. Vision with action can change the world.”

I remembered someone giving me this quote many years ago. At first, I did not understood what it meant. But as time went by, I did. Like many things in life, it is always better to live the message rather than just reading it. The example I have for you today involves a promotion I received years ago. When I started working for my current workplace, I envisioned myself being in a supervisory role. Little did I knew, it was going to take me years to get to that point.

It was early 2001 and I passed two different tests. The first test was an Engineer Intern exam. The second was a Supervisor examination for my workplace. At the time, I felt excited and happy to pass these two exams. However, the celebration was short lived when I found out I had an interview in two days. Talk about an unexpected surprise. With frantic haste, I prepared as best as I could. When that interview took place, I knew that I was not going to get that position. Lack of preparation and knowing in a short time hurt my chances.

Months later, I had a shot at another promotion. This time I was prepared for it. I practiced my interviewing skills, looked at notes, and envisioned being in that open position. When the interview took place, I did a fantastic job. I was confident. I knew the answers and I thought “Hey!! I am going to get promoted!!” A couple weeks later, I found out that they gave it to someone else. My heart shattered and I felt disappointed. I should have known that something smelled funny when they brought in a new hire for a technician position weeks ago. He had the same qualifications I did. Apparently, they thought that he would do a better job. However, their plan backfired. This same guy not only got demoted back to the technician position, but got fired weeks later. That meant that two positions were now open: a technician and a supervisor position.

When they interviewed for that same position, I was cautious – thanks to the “back door” politics. Again, I did a great job but I did not get promoted. They gave it to someone else. After seeing the funk and smelling the stench, it would have been easy for me to just leave that place and find another job. But somehow, I knew that the opportunity was still out there.

Fortunately, it finally came in 2003. A supervisor was promoted to a higher position, leaving his position vacant. With little hesitation, I prepared for the interview and review materials that were relevant to the position. When it was time for the interview, I was fully prepared once again. Did I get promoted? YES!! I FINALLY DID!! After a two year trek, my vision became reality when I finally got promoted!! It was a damn good feeling to get to this point!!

When it comes to goals we want to achieve, we have our visions of making it happen. Heck, I still have a few more I love to see come true!! It does not matter if it is creating a business, getting a new car, or finding that loved one, we visualize what we want accomplished. To think is to create and when we have that vision in our minds, we know we can get there. All we have to do is have unwavering faith and take advantage of any opportunity. For vision without action is a dream. Action without vision is frenzied activity and vision with action can change YOUR world!!

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time an attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

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